Waiters and Waitresses Salary in Cedar Rapids, IA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Cedar Rapids, IA

Median annual salary $27,620 -18.2% vs national
Median hourly $13.28
10th percentile $15,080
90th percentile $49,010
Employed locally 1,840
National median $33,760

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Waiters and Waitresses
in
Cedar Rapids, IA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $15,080
    25th
    $18,000
    50th (median)
    $27,620
    75th
    $38,160
    90th
    $49,010

    Cedar Rapids economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.30% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $77,084 2023 • Census ACS
    Waiters and Waitresses salary vs area income 36% Median Waiters and Waitresses salary is 64% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Waiters and Waitresses

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $71,920
    Burlington-South Burlington, VT $66,350
    Vermont $60,910
    Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area $60,840
    Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area $53,460
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $48,760

    Nearby metros — Waiters and Waitresses salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA $46,280
    District of Columbia $45,770
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $38,440
    Virginia $36,990
    Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $36,910
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $35,900

    Related occupations in Cedar Rapids, IA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $28,410
    Cooks, Restaurant $35,770
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $38,470
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $35,620
    Bartenders $22,760
    Food Servers, Nonrestaurant $29,460

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Waiters and Waitresses make per hour in Cedar Rapids?

    The median hourly wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Cedar Rapids, IA is $13.28, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $23.43 or more per hour.

    Is Cedar Rapids above or below average for Waiters and Waitresses salaries?

    The median Waiters and Waitresses salary in Cedar Rapids, IA is 18.2% below the national median of $33,760. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Waiters and Waitresses in Cedar Rapids?

    Entry-level Waiters and Waitresses (10th percentile) earn around $15,080 per year in Cedar Rapids, IA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $18,000.