Waiters and Waitresses pay range in Worcester
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,200 a year or less, while the top 10% make $59,720 or more. The middle half of waiters and waitresses in Worcester earn between $33,900 and $43,930.
- $31K10th
- $34K25th
- $37KMedian
- $44K75th
- $60K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $42,310 | $3,526 | $20.34 |
| Median | $36,840 | $3,070 | $17.71 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $33,900 | $2,825 | $16.30 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $43,930 | $3,661 | $21.12 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Waiters and Waitresses pay in Worcester vs. Massachusetts and the U.S.
Waiters and waitresses in Worcester earn 5% less than the Massachusetts average ($44,480) and 6% more than the U.S. average ($40,060). At the median the gap is +5% against the U.S. median of $35,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester | $42,310 | $36,840 | $31,200 | $59,720 | 4,610 |
| Massachusetts | $44,480 | $38,460 | $31,790 | $62,200 | 54,670 |
| 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 Worcester
On the average salary of $42,310, a single filer in Worcester takes home about $34,381 a year, or $2,865 a month and $1,322 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). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Is Worcester a good place for waiters and waitresses? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Worcester area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 102.5), so the average $42,310 buys what about $41,269 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Worcester ($57,830). A typical home costs $482,611, or 11.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other Massachusetts cities
Worcester ranks 5th of 6 Massachusetts metro areas for this job; Barnstable pays the most ($45,760).
- Barnstable$45,760
- Boston$45,340
- Amherst$42,760
- Pittsfield$42,750
- Worcester$42,310
- Springfield$41,130
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 Worcester: questions
How much do waiters and waitresses make an hour in Worcester?
$20.34 an hour on average, and $17.71 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level waiters and waitresses salary in Worcester?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,200 a year and the 25th percentile is $33,900, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the waiters and waitresses take-home pay in Worcester?
About $34,381 a year ($2,865 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $42,310. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do waiters and waitresses earn more in Worcester than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% 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 Worcester, MA (49340). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.5%.
- 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). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.90, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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