Waiter and Waitress salary in District of Columbia
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A waiter and waitress in District of Columbia earns a median of $47,850 a year ($23.00/hour equivalent), 35.8% above the national median of $35,230. District of Columbia ranks #5 of 51 states. About 11,530 people do this job in District of Columbia.
Take-home pay in District of Columbia
At the District of Columbia median, a single filer keeps about $38,856 a year after federal, FICA and District of Columbia taxes — $1,494 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the District of Columbia paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $1,840.38
- Federal income tax
- −$137.00
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$114.10
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$26.69
- District of Columbia income tax
- −$68.12
- Take-home pay
- $1,494.48
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $47,850
- Federal
- $3,562
- FICA
- $3,661
- State + local
- $1,771
- Net
- $38,856
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 6.0%
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 District of Columbia 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 |
| #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 District of Columbia?
The median salary is $47,850 a year and the average is $59,510 (BLS May 2025).
Is District of Columbia a good state for waiters and waitresses?
District of Columbia ranks #5 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 36% above the national median of $35,230.
What is $47,850 after taxes in District of Columbia?
About $38,856 a year ($1,494 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.