Waiters and Waitresses pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,200 a year or less, while the top 10% make $50,410 or more. The middle half of waiters and waitresses in Chicago earn between $31,200 and $35,800.
- $31K10th
- $31K25th
- $31KMedian
- $36K75th
- $50K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $35,650 | $2,971 | $17.14 |
| Median | $31,200 | $2,600 | $15.00 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $31,200 | $2,600 | $15.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $35,800 | $2,983 | $17.21 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Waiters and Waitresses pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Waiters and waitresses in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($35,610) and 11% less than the U.S. average ($40,060). At the median the gap is -11% against the U.S. median of $35,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $35,650 | $31,200 | $31,200 | $50,410 | 54,100 |
| Illinois | $35,610 | $31,200 | $31,200 | $49,470 | 72,900 |
| 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 Chicago
On the average salary of $35,650, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $29,201 a year, or $2,433 a month and $1,123 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $29,785 | $2,482 |
| Working in IL | $29,201 | $2,433 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for waiters and waitresses? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $35,650 buys what about $34,413 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 9.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 8 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Chicago$35,650
- Bloomington$35,320
- Decatur$35,310
- Rockford$35,200
- Kankakee$34,960
- Champaign$34,920
- Springfield$34,920
- Peoria$34,900
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 Chicago: questions
How much do waiters and waitresses make an hour in Chicago?
$17.14 an hour on average, and $15.00 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level waiters and waitresses salary in Chicago?
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 Chicago?
About $29,201 a year ($2,433 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $35,650.
Do waiters and waitresses earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% less 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.4%.
- 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 0.82, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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