Waiters and Waitresses salary in Columbus, GA-AL
Waiters and Waitresses in the Columbus, GA-AL metro area earn a median of $20,800 a year ($10.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,080 workers.
Pay ranges from $15,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,160 for the top 10%. That is 41% lower than the national median of $35,230. Pay here is 11% higher than the Georgia statewide median of $18,700. There are 18 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $25,590, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Columbus, GA-AL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,080 | $7.25 |
| 25th percentile | $15,080 | $7.25 |
| Median | $20,800 | $10.00 |
| 75th percentile | $31,420 | $15.10 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,160 | $20.75 |
| Average (mean) | $25,590 | $12.30 |
Half of waiters and waitresses earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $1,733.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $866.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $800 |
| Weekly | $400 |
| Hourly | $10.00 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Huntsville, AL | $27,990 | 3,290 |
| Birmingham, AL | $27,670 | 7,000 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $27,080 | 3,120 |
| Decatur, AL | $27,010 | 670 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | $26,930 | 1,650 |
| Mobile, AL | $26,860 | 2,510 |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | $26,470 | 1,310 |
| Montgomery, AL | $26,360 | 2,300 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $25,990 | 1,100 |
| Anniston-Oxford, AL | $24,640 | 600 |
| Dothan, AL | $24,520 | 960 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $24,240 | 4,790 |
| Gadsden, AL | $24,030 | 560 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | $21,090 | 2,030 |
| Rome, GA | $20,980 | 740 |
| Savannah, GA | $20,830 | 4,940 |
| Warner Robins, GA | $19,070 | 1,350 |
| Valdosta, GA | $18,510 | 1,150 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $18,460 | 45,880 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $18,390 | 3,820 |
| Albany, GA | $18,330 | 900 |
| Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $18,250 | 1,510 |
| Gainesville, GA | $17,980 | 1,390 |
| Dalton, GA | $17,930 | 680 |
| Macon-Bibb County, GA | $17,830 | 1,660 |
| Hinesville, GA | $17,640 | 280 |
Highest-paying states for waiters and waitresses
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $62,390 |
| Vermont | $59,140 |
| Washington | $56,130 |
| Oregon | $48,410 |
| District of Columbia | $47,850 |
| New York | $47,020 |
| New Jersey | $44,960 |
| Colorado | $44,860 |
| Virginia | $44,760 |
| Arizona | $43,950 |
See Waiters and Waitresses pay in every state or the Georgia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Columbus, GA-AL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $23,300 | $11.20 |
| Bartender | $20,940 | $10.07 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $28,360 | $13.64 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $36,180 | $17.39 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $30,470 | $14.65 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $29,030 | $13.96 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $26,560 | $12.77 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $25,740 | $12.38 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $24,890 | $11.96 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $31,940 | $15.36 |
| Dishwasher | $28,490 | $13.70 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $62,920 | $30.25 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $26,370 | $12.68 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Columbus, GA-AL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-3031. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiters and waitresses make in Columbus, GA-AL?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in the Columbus, GA-AL metro area is $20,800 a year, or $10.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $15,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,160 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Columbus, GA-AL?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in the Columbus, GA-AL metro area earn at least $43,160 a year. The top 25% earn $31,420 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Columbus, GA-AL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $15,080 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $15,080 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in Columbus, GA-AL?
About 2,080 waiters and waitresses are employed in the Columbus, GA-AL metro area, not counting the self-employed.