Waiter and Waitress salary in New Jersey
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A waiter and waitress in New Jersey earns a median of $44,960 a year ($21.62/hour equivalent), 27.6% above the national median of $35,230. New Jersey ranks #7 of 51 states. About 55,800 people do this job in New Jersey.
Take-home pay in New Jersey
At the New Jersey median, a single filer keeps about $36,990 a year after federal, FICA and New Jersey taxes — $1,423 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the New Jersey paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $1,729.23
- Federal income tax
- −$123.66
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$107.21
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$25.07
- New Jersey income tax
- −$36.01
- NJ Unemployment Insurance
- −$6.59
- NJ Workforce Development / Supplemental Workforce
- −$0.73
- NJ Temporary Disability Insurance
- −$3.29
- NJ Family Leave Insurance
- −$3.98
- Take-home pay
- $1,422.69
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $44,960
- Federal
- $3,215
- FICA
- $3,439
- State + local
- $1,316
- Net
- $36,990
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 5.5%
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 New Jersey 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 |
| #7 | New Jersey | $44,960 |
| #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 New Jersey?
The median salary is $44,960 a year and the average is $50,260 (BLS May 2025).
Is New Jersey a good state for waiters and waitresses?
New Jersey ranks #7 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 28% above the national median of $35,230.
What is $44,960 after taxes in New Jersey?
About $36,990 a year ($1,423 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.