Waiters and Waitresses pay range in Boulder
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,800 a year or less, while the top 10% make $80,920 or more. The middle half of waiters and waitresses in Boulder earn between $35,360 and $71,880.
- $34K10th
- $35K25th
- $50KMedian
- $72K75th
- $81K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $55,310 | $4,609 | $26.59 |
| Median | $49,870 | $4,156 | $23.98 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,360 | $2,947 | $17.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $71,880 | $5,990 | $34.56 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Waiters and Waitresses pay in Boulder vs. Colorado and the U.S.
Waiters and waitresses in Boulder earn 8% more than the Colorado average ($51,240) and 38% more than the U.S. average ($40,060). At the median the gap is +42% against the U.S. median of $35,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | $55,310 | $49,870 | $33,800 | $80,920 | 2,670 |
| Colorado | $51,240 | $44,860 | $30,800 | $78,160 | 40,680 |
| 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 Boulder
On the average salary of $55,310, a single filer in Boulder takes home about $44,896 a year, or $3,741 a month and $1,727 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
Is Boulder a good place for waiters and waitresses? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Boulder area are 5% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 105.2), so the average $55,310 buys what about $52,575 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Boulder ($69,580). A typical home costs $727,954, or 13.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other Colorado cities
Boulder ranks 1st of 7 Colorado metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Boulder$55,310
- Denver$51,870
- Greeley$51,600
- Fort Collins$50,800
- Pueblo$50,650
- Colorado Springs$49,910
- Grand Junction$49,050
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
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Waiters and Waitresses salary in Boulder: questions
How much do waiters and waitresses make an hour in Boulder?
$26.59 an hour on average, and $23.97 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level waiters and waitresses salary in Boulder?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,800 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,360, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the waiters and waitresses take-home pay in Boulder?
About $44,896 a year ($3,741 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $55,310. Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
Do waiters and waitresses earn more in Boulder than elsewhere?
The average here is 38% 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 Boulder, CO (14500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.5%.
- 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). Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.95, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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