How much does a waiter and waitress make in Grand Rapids?
$42,930a year
Median yearly pay for waiter and waitresss in the Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI metro area. That is $20.64 an hour or $3,578 a month.
- Hourly
- $20.64
- Vs. national median
- +22%
- Rank among cities
- 51 of 392
- Jobs in the area
- 8,080
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $27,140Median: $42,930Highest 10%: $73,590
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $27,140 | $13.05 | |
| 25th | $29,930 | $14.39 | |
| Median | $42,930 | $20.64 | |
| 75th | $60,570 | $29.12 | |
| 90th | $73,590 | $35.38 |
Other cities in Michigan
Median yearly pay for waiter and waitresss.
| Muskegon, MI | $44,920 |
| Flint, MI | $44,030 |
| 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 |
| Detroit, MI | $37,490 |
| Battle Creek, MI | $36,370 |
| South Bend, IN | $28,740 |
Related jobs in Grand Rapids
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $61,890 |
| Bartender | $38,430 |
| Cook | $37,800 |
| Cook | $37,360 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $37,240 |
| Cook | $34,200 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $33,890 |
| Food Server | $32,770 |
| Dishwasher | $31,940 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $31,920 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make an hour in Grand Rapids?
The median hourly pay in the Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI metro area is $20.64 ($42,930 a year).
Do waiter and waitresss make more in Grand Rapids than the national average?
Yes: $42,930 against $35,230 nationally, 22% more.
How does Grand Rapids compare with the rest of Michigan?
The median in Michigan is $37,760, so Grand Rapids pays 14% more.
Where does Grand Rapids rank for waiter and waitress pay?
51 of 392 metro areas with data.
How much does a waiter and waitress make starting out in Grand Rapids?
The lowest-paid 10% make $27,140 or less a year; the top 10% make $73,590 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.