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Waiters and Waitresses salary in Fort Wayne, IN

Waiters and Waitresses in the Fort Wayne, IN metropolitan area earn a median of $28,650 a year, an average of $30,730. About 3,150 people work in this occupation there. Figures are from the May 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS).

Waiters and Waitresses pay at a glance

Annual median wage
$28,650
Half earn more, half earn less
Annual mean wage
$30,730
Pulled up by top earners
10th percentile
$17,430
Bottom of the range
90th percentile
$47,840
Top of the range
People employed
3,150
In Fort Wayne metro area
Rent share of median wage
40.2%
Median rent ÷ median wage

What this wage buys in Fort Wayne

Rent from the ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, compared with the wage above

Median gross rent
$959
per month, in Fort Wayne, IN
Income needed for median rent
$38,400
Keeps rent at 30% of gross pay
Median waiters and waitresses wage
$28,650
25.4% below income needed for median rent
Rent as share of this wage
40.2%
12 months rent ÷ median wage
City median household income
$60,293
All households, not one occupation

Occupations are not paid the same everywhere, and this page does not explain why. It reports what the survey measured for the Fort Wayne area. Read the Fort Wayne, IN cost of living page for rent, income and the price level, or the methodology for how the numbers are compiled.

Waiters and Waitresses pay in other cities

Median annual wage, same occupation, same survey

Toledo, OH
+26.1%
Median $36,140
Mean $41,030
Employed 4,600
Reno, NV
-10.3%
Median $25,700
Mean $29,760
Employed 4,220
North Las Vegas, NV
-5.4%
Median $27,110
Mean $38,200
Employed 36,160
Lubbock, TX
-21.3%
Median $22,560
Mean $27,820
Employed 3,040
St. Petersburg, FL
+29.4%
Median $37,070
Mean $44,090
Employed 25,280
Chula Vista, CA
+25.1%
Median $35,850
Mean $47,700
Employed 24,050
Madison, WI
+7.9%
Median $30,910
Mean $38,450
Employed 5,130
Buffalo, NY
+62.6%
Median $46,580
Mean $54,310
Employed 7,990

See waiters and waitresses pay in every covered city.

Take-home pay calculator

Estimate your net pay after federal, state, and FICA taxes. Adjust filing status and allowances for your situation.

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Gross annual income $28,650 / year
$28,650
Federal income tax 2024 brackets, Single filing
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State income tax Indiana (IN)
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FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.65% up to wage base
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Pre-tax deductions 401(k), HSA, etc.
$0
Take-home pay (annual) After all taxes
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Take-home per paycheck Monthly
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Effective tax rate Total tax ÷ gross income
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Estimates use 2024 federal tax brackets, FICA rates (6.2% SS up to $168,600, 1.45% Medicare + 0.9% >$200k), and state rates from Tax Foundation. Does not include local taxes, AMT, or tax credits. Consult a tax professional for actual liability.

Definitions used on this page

Annual median wage
The wage that half of the people in this occupation earn more than and half earn less than, for one year of work.
Annual mean wage
The average of all reported wages. It is higher than the median when a few very high earners pull it up.
Percentiles
The 10th percentile is the wage below which 10% of workers fall; the 90th is the wage above which only 10% rise. The gap between them shows how wide the pay range is.
Employment
The estimated number of jobs in this occupation in the metropolitan area, not the number of residents who hold it.

Sources and limits

Wages describe the metropolitan area, while rent and income describe the city boundaries. The two areas do not cover exactly the same ground. Wages are also averaged across a year and across every industry, so a specific employer can differ widely from the median shown here.