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Waiters and Waitresses Salary in Michigan

What Waiters and Waitresses earn in Michigan, labor market by labor market, and what is left after taxes and living costs in 11 counties.

Average in MI
$38,586
local median wages, weighted
Rank among states
12 of 41
published states
Workers in state
66,230
BLS employment estimate
Wage areas
2
11 counties

Pay by labor market in Michigan

Waiters and Waitresses pay by wage area in Michigan
Wage areaMedian wageTake-home payMargin per yearLargest county
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI$42,930$35,045$11,338Kent County, MI
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI$37,490$30,905$9,574Wayne County, MI

Counties ranked by what is left after the basics

Waiters and Waitresses in Michigan counties, by yearly margin
#CountyMedian wageTake-home payMargin per year
1Ionia County, MI$42,930$35,045$16,366
2Montcalm County, MI$42,930$35,045$15,706
3Barry County, MI$42,930$35,045$15,226
4Ottawa County, MI$42,930$35,045$11,434
5Kent County, MI$42,930$35,045$11,338
6Wayne County, MI$37,490$30,905$9,574
7Oakland County, MI$37,490$30,905$9,574
8Macomb County, MI$37,490$30,905$9,574
9St. Clair County, MI$37,490$30,905$9,574
10Lapeer County, MI$37,490$30,905$9,574
11Livingston County, MI$37,490$30,905$8,086

Waiters and Waitresses pay in Michigan

The employment-weighted average of local median wages for Waiters and Waitresses in Michigan is $38,586, based on 66,230 workers. Among the 41 states with published data, that ranks number 12. The BLS national median for the occupation is $35,230, so Michigan averages 9.5% above it.

Inside Michigan, pay depends on the labor market. The highest local median is $42,930 in the Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI area and the lowest is $37,490 in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI, a difference of $5,440 across 2 wage areas.

Cost of living for Waiters and Waitresses in Michigan

We compare 11 Michigan counties after federal, Social Security, Medicare and state taxes and the four basics: a one-bedroom rental, food, home energy and gasoline. Ionia County, MI leaves the largest yearly margin, $16,366. Livingston County, MI leaves the smallest, $8,086. The median wage covers all four basics in 11 of the 11 counties.

Waiters and Waitresses in other states

The states with the highest average local median wages for Waiters and Waitresses are Washington ($54,839), Oregon ($50,502), New York ($47,178) and District of Columbia ($46,040).

Frequently asked questions: Waiters and Waitresses in Michigan

How much do Waiters and Waitresses earn in Michigan?

The employment-weighted average of local median wages is $38,586, from $37,490 to $42,930 depending on the labor market.

Which Michigan county is best for Waiters and Waitresses?

Ionia County, MI leaves the largest yearly margin after taxes and the four basics ($16,366). Montcalm County, MI follows at $15,706.