Champaign-Urbana, IL · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Waiter or Waitress Salary in Champaign-Urbana, IL

In the Champaign-Urbana, IL metropolitan area, waiters or waitresses earned a median annual wage of $28,900 ($13.89/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $28,900/year and the 90th was $45,900/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Illinois tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $24,115 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 92.7 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$28,900$13.89 per hour · $2,408 monthly
10th Percentile$28,900$13.89/hr base
25th Percentile$28,900$13.89/hr base
75th Percentile$30,300$14.57/hr base
90th Percentile$45,900$22.07/hr base

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-Home Pay Explorer

$28,900
$15,000$60,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$28,900
Net 83%
Fed 4%
IL 4%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$24,115After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,010Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$928Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate16.6%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$1,288 / yr
Illinois state income tax$1,286 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,211 / yr

Waiters and Waitresses Wage Percentiles in Champaign-Urbana, IL

Official survey estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Full-time calculations assume standard 2,080 annual working hours.

Wage Distribution for Waiters and Waitresses in the Champaign-Urbana, IL Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (IL)
10th Percentile$13.89/hr$2,408$28,900$24,115
25th Percentile$13.89/hr$2,408$28,900$24,115
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$13.89/hr$2,408$28,900$24,115
75th Percentile$14.57/hr$2,525$30,300$25,171
90th Percentile$22.07/hr$3,825$45,900$36,933

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Champaign-Urbana, IL

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$28,900 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$65,528Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index92.77.3% below national average
Individual vs Household Ratio44.1%of area median income

Compare waiters or waitresses salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in Illinois:

Frequently Asked Questions About Waiters and Waitresses Pay in Champaign-Urbana, IL

What is the median salary for waiters or waitresses in Champaign-Urbana, IL?

The official BLS median annual wage for waiters or waitresses in Champaign-Urbana, IL is $28,900, which equates to approximately $2,408 per month or $13.89 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for waiters or waitresses in Champaign-Urbana, IL?

The median hourly wage for waiters or waitresses in Champaign-Urbana, IL is $13.89 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $13.89/hour and one in ten earned more than $22.07/hour.

What is the pay range for waiters or waitresses in Champaign-Urbana, IL?

BLS wage estimates for waiters or waitresses in Champaign-Urbana, IL span from $28,900 at the 10th percentile to $28,900 at the 25th, $30,300 at the 75th, and $45,900 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do waiters or waitresses take home after taxes in Champaign-Urbana, IL?

On a median gross salary of $28,900, an estimated $24,115 lands in net take-home pay per year ($928 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Illinois in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $4,785 (an effective rate of 16.6%).

How much do waiters or waitresses make per month in Champaign-Urbana, IL?

On the median annual salary of $28,900, gross monthly income is $2,408. After federal, FICA, and Illinois state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,010 per month (or $928 every two weeks).

Is $28,900 a good salary in Champaign-Urbana, IL?

At $28,900, the median salary for waiters or waitresses is 44.1% of the Champaign-Urbana, IL median household income ($65,528). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 92.7, making regional consumer goods and services 7.3% cheaper than the U.S. average.