Median salary
$21,870
ANZSCO 4315 · Hospitality workers
Waiter salary in Australia
Median salary for an Australian waiter is $21,870 per year (2022-23 tax return data), with $21,870 take-home after tax at current FY2025-26 rates.
After tax (yr)
$21,870
Fortnightly
$841
Tax returns
151,050
Income distribution
Source: ATO Taxation Statistics 2022-23, Table 15 (ANZSCO unit group 4315, based on 151,050 tax returns).
| Metric | Taxable income | Salary / wages | Total income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median | $24,988 | $21,870 | $25,563 |
| Average (mean) | $28,885 | $26,104 | $29,569 |
Taxable income = gross income minus allowable deductions. Salary / wages = PAYG-reported income only. Total income = all sources including investment, business, etc.
Take-home pay on the median $waiter salary
| Gross salary (median) | $21,870 |
| Income tax | −$0 |
| Medicare levy (2%) | −$0 |
| Low-income tax offset | +$700 |
| Take-home pay | $21,870 |
| + Employer super | $2,624 |
See the $30,000 salary page for full breakdown (monthly, fortnightly, weekly, daily and hourly), or
open the calculator prefilled with $21,870 to model salary sacrifice, HELP, or novated lease.
Related occupations · Hospitality workers
Other occupations within the same ANZSCO sub-major group.
| Occupation | Tax returns | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Bar attendant or barista | 113,707 | $31,788 |
| Other hospitality worker | 78,353 | $28,839 |
| Café worker | 59,540 | $20,520 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter earn in Australia?
The median salary or wage income for an Australian waiter in 2022-23 was $21,870, based on 151,050 lodged tax returns. The average (mean) was $26,104; the mean is pulled up by high earners so the median is a better guide for a typical waiter.
What is a waiter salary after tax?
On the median $21,870 salary for a waiter, take-home pay in FY2025-26 is about $21,870 per year after income tax and the 2% Medicare levy — roughly $841 per fortnight or $421 per week.
How much tax does a waiter pay?
On the median $21,870 salary, a waiter in FY2025-26 pays about $0 in total tax — $0 income tax plus $0 Medicare levy. Effective rate: 0.0%.
How many people work as a waiter in Australia?
151,050 Australians lodged a tax return as a waiter in 2022-23. This is the count of individuals who classified themselves under ANZSCO unit group 4315 on their return.
What is the average vs median waiter salary?
Average (mean): $26,104. Median: $21,870. The median is usually lower because a small number of very high earners pull the average up. For a realistic picture of what a typical waiter earns, use the median.
Data sources
Salary data: Australian Taxation Office — Taxation Statistics 2022-23, Table 15. Used under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Australia licence.
Take-home pay calculated at paycalculator.page using ATO-published FY2025-26 brackets, 2% Medicare levy, and default settings (Australian resident, private hospital cover, tax-free threshold claimed).