Waiters and Waitresses pay range in Grand Forks
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $18,560 a year or less, while the top 10% make $58,950 or more. The middle half of waiters and waitresses in Grand Forks earn between $22,880 and $36,610.
- $19K10th
- $23K25th
- $28KMedian
- $37K75th
- $59K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $33,420 | $2,785 | $16.07 |
| Median | $27,820 | $2,318 | $13.38 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $22,880 | $1,907 | $11.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,610 | $3,051 | $17.60 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Waiters and Waitresses pay in Grand Forks vs. North Dakota and the U.S.
Waiters and waitresses in Grand Forks earn 8% less than the North Dakota average ($36,250) and 17% less than the U.S. average ($40,060). At the median the gap is -21% against the U.S. median of $35,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Forks | $33,420 | $27,820 | $18,560 | $58,950 | 820 |
| North Dakota | $36,250 | $30,890 | $18,470 | $60,570 | 5,250 |
| United States | $40,060 | $35,230 | $18,100 | $64,720 | 2,270,910 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Waiters and Waitresses salary after taxes in Grand Forks
On the average salary of $33,420, a single filer in Grand Forks takes home about $29,033 a year, or $2,419 a month and $1,117 every two weeks. Taxes take 13% of gross pay.
The Grand Forks, ND-MN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in ND | $29,033 | $2,419 |
| Working in MN | $28,064 | $2,339 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Grand Forks a good place for waiters and waitresses? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Grand Forks area are 13% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 86.7), so the average $33,420 buys what about $38,563 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Grand Forks ($49,760). A typical home costs $275,955, or 8.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other North Dakota cities
Grand Forks ranks 4th of 4 North Dakota metro areas for this job; Bismarck pays the most ($37,330).
Highest-paying cities for waiters and waitresses
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($87,210).
- Kahului, HI$87,210
- Seattle, WA$62,940
- Honolulu, HI$61,880
- Bremerton, WA$61,770
- Burlington, VT$61,070
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Waiters and Waitresses salary in Grand Forks: questions
How much do waiters and waitresses make an hour in Grand Forks?
$16.07 an hour on average, and $13.37 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level waiters and waitresses salary in Grand Forks?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $18,560 a year and the 25th percentile is $22,880, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the waiters and waitresses take-home pay in Grand Forks?
About $29,033 a year ($2,419 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $33,420.
Do waiters and waitresses earn more in Grand Forks than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% less than the U.S. average for this job ($40,060).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-3031; area Grand Forks, ND-MN (24220). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.3%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.07, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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