Waiters and Waitresses pay range in Phoenix
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,850 a year or less, while the top 10% make $79,780 or more. The middle half of waiters and waitresses in Phoenix earn between $34,840 and $69,610.
- $31K10th
- $35K25th
- $48KMedian
- $70K75th
- $80K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $53,370 | $4,448 | $25.66 |
| Median | $47,530 | $3,961 | $22.85 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $34,840 | $2,903 | $16.75 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $69,610 | $5,801 | $33.47 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Waiters and Waitresses pay in Phoenix vs. Arizona and the U.S.
Waiters and waitresses in Phoenix earn 4% more than the Arizona average ($51,170) and 33% more than the U.S. average ($40,060). At the median the gap is +35% against the U.S. median of $35,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | $53,370 | $47,530 | $30,850 | $79,780 | 39,920 |
| Arizona | $51,170 | $43,950 | $30,580 | $78,920 | 55,950 |
| United States | $40,060 | $35,230 | $18,100 | $64,720 | 2,270,910 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Waiters and Waitresses salary after taxes in Phoenix
On the average salary of $53,370, a single filer in Phoenix takes home about $44,122 a year, or $3,677 a month and $1,697 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Phoenix a good place for waiters and waitresses? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Phoenix area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.3), so the average $53,370 buys what about $51,657 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Phoenix ($51,380). A typical home costs $448,352, or 8.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other Arizona cities
Phoenix ranks 1st of 7 Arizona metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Phoenix$53,370
- Flagstaff$48,990
- Prescott Valley$45,850
- Tucson$45,450
- Lake Havasu City$45,060
- Yuma$44,250
- Sierra Vista$40,940
Highest-paying cities for waiters and waitresses
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($87,210).
- Kahului, HI$87,210
- Seattle, WA$62,940
- Honolulu, HI$61,880
- Bremerton, WA$61,770
- Burlington, VT$61,070
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Waiters and Waitresses salary in Phoenix: questions
How much do waiters and waitresses make an hour in Phoenix?
$25.66 an hour on average, and $22.85 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level waiters and waitresses salary in Phoenix?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,850 a year and the 25th percentile is $34,840, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the waiters and waitresses take-home pay in Phoenix?
About $44,122 a year ($3,677 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $53,370.
Do waiters and waitresses earn more in Phoenix than elsewhere?
The average here is 33% more than the U.S. average for this job ($40,060).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-3031; area Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ (38060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.9%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.15, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.