Waiter and Waitress salary in Massachusetts
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A waiter and waitress in Massachusetts earns a median of $38,460 a year ($18.49/hour equivalent), 9.2% above the national median of $35,230. Massachusetts ranks #12 of 51 states. About 54,670 people do this job in Massachusetts.
Take-home pay in Massachusetts
At the Massachusetts median, a single filer keeps about $31,203 a year after federal, FICA and Massachusetts taxes — $1,200 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the Massachusetts paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $1,479.23
- Federal income tax
- −$93.66
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$91.71
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$21.45
- Massachusetts income tax
- −$65.50
- MA PFML
- −$6.80
- Take-home pay
- $1,200.10
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $38,460
- Federal
- $2,435
- FICA
- $2,942
- State + local
- $1,880
- Net
- $31,203
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- 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 Massachusetts 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 |
| #12 | Massachusetts | $38,460 |
| #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 Massachusetts?
The median salary is $38,460 a year and the average is $44,480 (BLS May 2025).
Is Massachusetts a good state for waiters and waitresses?
Massachusetts ranks #12 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 9% above the national median of $35,230.
What is $38,460 after taxes in Massachusetts?
About $31,203 a year ($1,200 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.