Waiter and Waitress salary in Rhode Island
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A waiter and waitress in Rhode Island earns a median of $35,420 a year ($17.03/hour equivalent), 0.5% above the national median of $35,230. Rhode Island ranks #23 of 51 states. About 10,160 people do this job in Rhode Island.
Take-home pay in Rhode Island
At the Rhode Island median, a single filer keeps about $29,539 a year after federal, FICA and Rhode Island taxes — $1,136 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the Rhode Island paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $1,362.31
- Federal income tax
- −$79.63
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$84.46
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$19.75
- Rhode Island income tax
- −$27.36
- RI Temporary Disability Insurance / Temporary Caregiver Insurance
- −$14.99
- Take-home pay
- $1,136.11
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $35,420
- Federal
- $2,070
- FICA
- $2,710
- State + local
- $1,101
- Net
- $29,539
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 3.8%
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 Rhode Island 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 |
| #23 | Rhode Island | $35,420 |
| #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 Rhode Island?
The median salary is $35,420 a year and the average is $42,740 (BLS May 2025).
Is Rhode Island a good state for waiters and waitresses?
Rhode Island ranks #23 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 1% above the national median of $35,230.
What is $35,420 after taxes in Rhode Island?
About $29,539 a year ($1,136 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.