Salary comparison
Waiters and Waitresses: Burlington vs Salem
Burlington, VT pays about 26.5% more for waiters and waitresses on paper — $61,620 vs $48,720. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Burlington comes out ahead by $12,900 a year in real buying power.
Burlington, VT
$61,620
$37,220
$78,590
$29.63
100
$61,620/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Salem, OR
$48,720
$35,330
$61,770
$23.42
100
$48,720/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $12,900 a year (26.5%) in favor of Burlington. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Burlington runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Salem sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Burlington is the better deal by $12,900 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Salem to Burlington for this role, the raise needs to beat 26.5% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do waiters and waitresses earn more, Burlington or Salem?
Burlington pays $61,620 on median — about 26.5% more than Salem ($48,720). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Burlington. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Burlington gives you roughly$61,620 of real buying power versus $48,720 in the other city.