Dubuque, IA · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Waiter or Waitress Salary in Dubuque, IA

In the Dubuque, IA metropolitan area, waiters or waitresses earned a median annual wage of $20,900 ($10.05/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $15,000/year and the 90th was $47,700/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Iowa tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $18,679 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 87.3 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$20,900$10.05 per hour · $1,742 monthly
10th Percentile$15,000$7.21/hr base
25th Percentile$15,000$7.21/hr base
75th Percentile$35,200$16.92/hr base
90th Percentile$47,700$22.93/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

$20,900
$15,000$45,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$20,900
Net 89%
Fed 2%
IA 1%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$18,679After all taxes
Monthly deposit$1,557Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$718Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate10.6%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$480 / yr
Iowa state income tax$142 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$1,599 / yr

Waiters and Waitresses Wage Percentiles in Dubuque, IA

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 Dubuque, IA Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (IA)
10th Percentile$7.21/hr$1,250$15,000$13,853
25th Percentile$7.21/hr$1,250$15,000$13,853
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$10.05/hr$1,742$20,900$18,679
75th Percentile$16.92/hr$2,933$35,200$29,777
90th Percentile$22.93/hr$3,975$47,700$39,346

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Dubuque, IA

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$20,900 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$77,630Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index87.312.7% below national average
Individual vs Household Ratio26.9%of area median income

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Waiters and Waitresses Pay in Dubuque, IA

What is the median salary for waiters or waitresses in Dubuque, IA?

The official BLS median annual wage for waiters or waitresses in Dubuque, IA is $20,900, which equates to approximately $1,742 per month or $10.05 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for waiters or waitresses in Dubuque, IA?

The median hourly wage for waiters or waitresses in Dubuque, IA is $10.05 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $7.21/hour and one in ten earned more than $22.93/hour.

What is the pay range for waiters or waitresses in Dubuque, IA?

BLS wage estimates for waiters or waitresses in Dubuque, IA span from $15,000 at the 10th percentile to $15,000 at the 25th, $35,200 at the 75th, and $47,700 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do waiters or waitresses take home after taxes in Dubuque, IA?

On a median gross salary of $20,900, an estimated $18,679 lands in net take-home pay per year ($718 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Iowa in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $2,221 (an effective rate of 10.6%).

How much do waiters or waitresses make per month in Dubuque, IA?

On the median annual salary of $20,900, gross monthly income is $1,742. After federal, FICA, and Iowa state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $1,557 per month (or $718 every two weeks).

Is $20,900 a good salary in Dubuque, IA?

At $20,900, the median salary for waiters or waitresses is 26.9% of the Dubuque, IA median household income ($77,630). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 87.3, making regional consumer goods and services 12.7% cheaper than the U.S. average.