Waiter and Waitress salary in Alabama
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A waiter and waitress in Alabama earns a median of $26,840 a year ($12.90/hour equivalent), 23.8% below the national median of $35,230. Alabama ranks #38 of 51 states. About 28,760 people do this job in Alabama.
Take-home pay in Alabama
At the Alabama median, a single filer keeps about $22,687 a year after federal, FICA and Alabama taxes — $873 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the Alabama paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $1,032.31
- Federal income tax
- −$41.31
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$64.00
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$14.97
- Alabama income tax
- −$39.45
- Take-home pay
- $872.57
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $26,840
- Federal
- $1,074
- FICA
- $2,053
- State + local
- $1,026
- Net
- $22,687
- Marginal federal rate
- 10.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 5.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
How Alabama compares
| Rank | State | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Hawaii | $62,390 |
| #2 | Vermont | $59,140 |
| #3 | Washington | $56,130 |
| #4 | Oregon | $48,410 |
| #5 | District of Columbia | $47,850 |
| #38 | Alabama | $26,840 |
| #49 | South Carolina | $18,370 |
| #50 | Oklahoma | $17,910 |
| #51 | Louisiana | $15,080 |
See the national waiter and waitress salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Waiters and Waitresses (SOC 35-3031), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Alabama?
The median salary is $26,840 a year and the average is $27,200 (BLS May 2025).
Is Alabama a good state for waiters and waitresses?
Alabama ranks #38 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 24% below the national median of $35,230.
What is $26,840 after taxes in Alabama?
About $22,687 a year ($873 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.