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Waiters and Waitresses salary in Phoenix, AZ

Waiters and Waitresses in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metropolitan area earn a median of $47,530 a year, an average of $53,370. About 39,920 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
$47,530
Half earn more, half earn less
Annual mean wage
$53,370
Pulled up by top earners
10th percentile
$30,850
Bottom of the range
90th percentile
$79,780
Top of the range
People employed
39,920
In Phoenix metro area
Rent share of median wage
36.8%
Median rent ÷ median wage

What this wage buys in Phoenix

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

Median gross rent
$1,458
per month, in Phoenix, AZ
Income needed for median rent
$58,300
Keeps rent at 30% of gross pay
Median waiters and waitresses wage
$47,530
18.5% below income needed for median rent
Rent as share of this wage
36.8%
12 months rent ÷ median wage
City median household income
$77,041
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 Phoenix area. Read the Phoenix, AZ 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

Philadelphia, PA
-23.1%
Median $36,570
Mean $41,390
Employed 41,900
San Antonio, TX
-40.9%
Median $28,110
Mean $31,400
Employed 20,320
San Diego, CA
-24.6%
Median $35,850
Mean $47,700
Employed 24,050
Dallas, TX
-49.2%
Median $24,160
Mean $30,530
Employed 53,460
San Jose, CA
-11.8%
Median $41,920
Mean $52,010
Employed 12,600
Austin, TX
-42.6%
Median $27,260
Mean $32,970
Employed 19,170
Jacksonville, FL
-22.9%
Median $36,630
Mean $42,480
Employed 13,140
Houston, TX
-53.5%
Median $22,080
Mean $29,180
Employed 51,330

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 $47,530 / year
$47,530
Federal income tax 2024 brackets, Single filing
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State income tax Arizona (AZ)
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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.

Waiters and Waitresses salary in Phoenix, AZ: FAQ

How much do waiters and waitresses make in Phoenix, AZ?

The median salary for waiters and waitresses in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area is $47,530 a year (about $23 an hour for full-time work). The average is $53,370, pulled up by the top earners.

Is $47,530 a good salary for waiters and waitresses in Phoenix, AZ?

It is below the $58,300 needed to keep the median rent of $1,458 a month at 30% of gross income: the median rent would take 36.8% of this wage.

What do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses earn in Phoenix, AZ?

The top 10% earn more than $79,780 a year, while the lowest-paid 10% earn less than $30,850.

How many waiters and waitresses work in Phoenix, AZ?

About 39,920 people work in this occupation in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.

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.