How much does a waiter and waitress make in Detroit?
$37,490a year
Median yearly pay for waiter and waitresss in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area. That is $18.02 an hour or $3,124 a month.
- Hourly
- $18.02
- Vs. national median
- +6%
- Rank among cities
- 83 of 392
- Jobs in the area
- 29,210
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $25,960Median: $37,490Highest 10%: $64,210
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $25,960 | $12.48 | |
| 25th | $28,770 | $13.83 | |
| Median | $37,490 | $18.02 | |
| 75th | $59,530 | $28.62 | |
| 90th | $64,210 | $30.87 |
Other cities in Michigan
Median yearly pay for waiter and waitresss.
| Muskegon, MI | $44,920 |
| Flint, MI | $44,030 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $42,930 |
| Traverse City, MI | $41,380 |
| Bay City, MI | $40,500 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $40,230 |
| Jackson, MI | $39,920 |
| Saginaw, MI | $39,430 |
| Monroe, MI | $38,780 |
| Lansing, MI | $38,210 |
| Niles, MI | $38,130 |
| Kalamazoo, MI | $37,760 |
| Midland, MI | $37,750 |
| Battle Creek, MI | $36,370 |
| South Bend, IN | $28,740 |
Related jobs in Detroit
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $60,870 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $38,570 |
| Cook | $37,410 |
| Cook | $37,360 |
| Bartender | $36,780 |
| Cook | $35,630 |
| Food Server | $35,170 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $35,100 |
| Dishwasher | $34,350 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $33,060 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make an hour in Detroit?
The median hourly pay in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area is $18.02 ($37,490 a year).
Do waiter and waitresss make more in Detroit than the national average?
Yes: $37,490 against $35,230 nationally, 6% more.
How does Detroit compare with the rest of Michigan?
The median in Michigan is $37,760, so Detroit pays 1% less.
Where does Detroit rank for waiter and waitress pay?
83 of 392 metro areas with data.
How much does a waiter and waitress make starting out in Detroit?
The lowest-paid 10% make $25,960 or less a year; the top 10% make $64,210 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.