Paycheck Atlas

Waiters and Waitresses salary in Washington, DC

The median waiters and waitresses in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV earns $46,040 a year, 31% above the US median. After tax that is roughly $2,938 a month.

10th percentile
$31,880
25th percentile
$36,400
Median percentile
$46,040
75th percentile
$60,180
90th percentile
$81,060

Based on 46,160 employed. Data period: BLS OEWS May 2025. Percentiles show the spread of pay, not experience; reading the 25th percentile as "entry level" is only an approximation.

What you keep

$35,260 take-home a year
Gross pay$46,040
Federal income tax−$3,345
Social Security + Medicare−$3,522
District of Columbia income tax (approx.)−$3,913
Monthly take-home$2,938
Every two weeks$1,356

Does it go far here?

$42,284Median pay in Washington, DC is worth this at average US prices (local price level 108.9 vs 100).
69%of take-home pay goes to the median rent ($2,027 a month, Census ACS).

Top-paying jobs in Washington, DC

JobMedian pay
Psychiatrists$246,990
Emergency Medicine Physicians$239,200
Family Medicine Physicians$225,140
General Internal Medicine Physicians$223,250
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers$209,750
Physicians, All Other$208,710
Public Relations Managers$195,190
Computer and Information Systems Managers$195,190

All waiters and waitresses salaries · Take-home pay in District of Columbia