How much does a waiter and waitress make in Lansing?
$38,210a year
Median yearly pay for waiter and waitresss in the Lansing-East Lansing, MI metro area. That is $18.37 an hour or $3,184 a month.
- Hourly
- $18.37
- Vs. national median
- +8%
- Rank among cities
- 69 of 392
- Jobs in the area
- 2,710
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $26,870Median: $38,210Highest 10%: $64,040
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $26,870 | $12.92 | |
| 25th | $30,280 | $14.56 | |
| Median | $38,210 | $18.37 | |
| 75th | $59,600 | $28.65 | |
| 90th | $64,040 | $30.79 |
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 |
| 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 Lansing
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $59,280 |
| Bartender | $40,230 |
| Cook | $37,100 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $37,050 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $37,040 |
| Cook | $35,970 |
| Food Server | $34,700 |
| Cook | $33,280 |
| Dishwasher | $33,130 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $30,470 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make an hour in Lansing?
The median hourly pay in the Lansing-East Lansing, MI metro area is $18.37 ($38,210 a year).
Do waiter and waitresss make more in Lansing than the national average?
Yes: $38,210 against $35,230 nationally, 8% more.
How does Lansing compare with the rest of Michigan?
The median in Michigan is $37,760, so Lansing pays 1% more.
Where does Lansing rank for waiter and waitress pay?
69 of 392 metro areas with data.
How much does a waiter and waitress make starting out in Lansing?
The lowest-paid 10% make $26,870 or less a year; the top 10% make $64,040 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.