Waiters and Waitresses pay range in Davenport
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $15,080 a year or less, while the top 10% make $47,190 or more. The middle half of waiters and waitresses in Davenport earn between $18,460 and $31,650.
- $15K10th
- $18K25th
- $31KMedian
- $32K75th
- $47K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $29,950 | $2,496 | $14.40 |
| Median | $31,200 | $2,600 | $15.00 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $18,460 | $1,538 | $8.88 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $31,650 | $2,638 | $15.22 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Waiters and Waitresses pay in Davenport vs. Iowa and the U.S.
Waiters and waitresses in Davenport earn 11% more than the Iowa average ($26,940) and 25% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport | $29,950 | $31,200 | $15,080 | $47,190 | 2,680 |
| Iowa | $26,940 | $21,000 | $15,080 | $47,980 | 22,410 |
| 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 Davenport
On the average salary of $29,950, a single filer in Davenport takes home about $25,719 a year, or $2,143 a month and $989 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% of gross pay.
The Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IA | $25,719 | $2,143 |
| Working in IL | $24,903 | $2,075 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
Is Davenport a good place for waiters and waitresses? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Davenport area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 89.1), so the average $29,950 buys what about $33,622 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Davenport ($48,550). A typical home costs $195,380, or 6.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other Iowa cities
Davenport ranks 1st of 8 Iowa metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Davenport$29,950
- Sioux City$29,280
- Ames$29,250
- Iowa City$27,750
- Cedar Rapids$27,490
- Des Moines$27,240
- Dubuque$26,530
- Waterloo$26,300
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 Davenport: questions
How much do waiters and waitresses make an hour in Davenport?
$14.40 an hour on average, and $15.00 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level waiters and waitresses salary in Davenport?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $15,080 a year and the 25th percentile is $18,460, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the waiters and waitresses take-home pay in Davenport?
About $25,719 a year ($2,143 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $29,950. Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
Do waiters and waitresses earn more in Davenport than elsewhere?
The average here is 25% 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 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL (19340). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.8%.
- 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). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.02, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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