Waiters and Waitresses pay range in Dover
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,200 a year or less, while the top 10% make $58,740 or more. The middle half of waiters and waitresses in Dover earn between $31,200 and $45,890.
- $31K10th
- $31K25th
- $36KMedian
- $46K75th
- $59K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $41,400 | $3,450 | $19.90 |
| Median | $36,030 | $3,002 | $17.32 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $31,200 | $2,600 | $15.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $45,890 | $3,824 | $22.06 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Waiters and Waitresses pay in Dover vs. Delaware and the U.S.
Waiters and waitresses in Dover earn 4% less than the Delaware average ($43,070) and 3% more than the U.S. average ($40,060). At the median the gap is +2% against the U.S. median of $35,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dover | $41,400 | $36,030 | $31,200 | $58,740 | 970 |
| Delaware | $43,070 | $36,880 | $31,200 | $62,000 | 7,580 |
| 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 Dover
On the average salary of $41,400, a single filer in Dover takes home about $33,714 a year, or $2,810 a month and $1,297 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 (2025 rules).
Is Dover a good place for waiters and waitresses? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Dover area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.5), so the average $41,400 buys what about $42,458 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Dover ($46,690). A typical home costs $372,156, or 9.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in nearby metro areas
- Vineland, NJ$44,840
- Atlantic City, NJ$45,800
- Philadelphia, PA$41,390
- Baltimore, MD$43,030
- Salisbury, MD$41,760
- Lancaster, PA$37,080
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 Dover: questions
How much do waiters and waitresses make an hour in Dover?
$19.90 an hour on average, and $17.32 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level waiters and waitresses salary in Dover?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,200 a year and the 25th percentile is $31,200, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the waiters and waitresses take-home pay in Dover?
About $33,714 a year ($2,810 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $41,400.
Do waiters and waitresses earn more in Dover than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% 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 Dover, DE (20100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.1%.
- 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 (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.98, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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