Waiters and Waitresses pay range in Columbus
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $24,370 a year or less, while the top 10% make $63,250 or more. The middle half of waiters and waitresses in Columbus earn between $29,620 and $49,400.
- $24K10th
- $30K25th
- $37KMedian
- $49K75th
- $63K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $43,070 | $3,589 | $20.71 |
| Median | $37,490 | $3,124 | $18.02 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $29,620 | $2,468 | $14.24 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $49,400 | $4,117 | $23.75 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Waiters and Waitresses pay in Columbus vs. Ohio and the U.S.
Waiters and waitresses in Columbus earn about the same as the Ohio average ($42,190) and 8% more than the U.S. average ($40,060). At the median the gap is +6% against the U.S. median of $35,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | $43,070 | $37,490 | $24,370 | $63,250 | 15,900 |
| Ohio | $42,190 | $36,700 | $23,820 | $63,740 | 77,250 |
| 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 Columbus
On the average salary of $43,070, a single filer in Columbus takes home about $34,968 a year, or $2,914 a month and $1,345 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). Includes Columbus's local income tax (2.5%); the city income tax is that of the principal city (suburbs have their own rates) and school district income taxes are not included.
Is Columbus a good place for waiters and waitresses? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbus area are 5% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.5), so the average $43,070 buys what about $45,114 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbus ($51,340). A typical home costs $333,537, or 7.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other Ohio cities
Columbus ranks 2nd of 12 Ohio metro areas for this job; Cincinnati pays the most ($44,740).
- Cincinnati$44,740
- Columbus$43,070
- Lima$42,420
- Canton$42,080
- Dayton$41,970
- Akron$41,190
- Springfield$41,040
- Toledo$41,030
- Cleveland$41,010
- Sandusky$40,180
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 Columbus: questions
How much do waiters and waitresses make an hour in Columbus?
$20.71 an hour on average, and $18.03 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level waiters and waitresses salary in Columbus?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $24,370 a year and the 25th percentile is $29,620, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the waiters and waitresses take-home pay in Columbus?
About $34,968 a year ($2,914 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $43,070. Includes Columbus's local income tax (2.5%); the city income tax is that of the principal city (suburbs have their own rates) and school district income taxes are not included.
Do waiters and waitresses earn more in Columbus than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% 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 Columbus, OH (18140). 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). Includes Columbus's local income tax (2.5%); the city income tax is that of the principal city (suburbs have their own rates) and school district income taxes are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.99, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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