Salary comparison
Waiters and Waitresses: Salem vs Walla Walla
Walla Walla, WA pays about 16.4% more for waiters and waitresses on paper — $56,730 vs $48,720. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Walla Walla comes out ahead by $8,010 a year in real buying power.
Salem, OR
$48,720
$35,330
$61,770
$23.42
100
$48,720/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Walla Walla, WA
$56,730
$45,050
$73,380
$27.27
100
$56,730/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $8,010 a year (16.4%) in favor of Walla Walla. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Salem runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Walla Walla sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Walla Walla is the better deal by $8,010 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Salem to Walla Walla for this role, the raise needs to beat 16.4% 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, Salem or Walla Walla?
Walla Walla pays $56,730 on median — about 16.4% more than Salem ($48,720). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Walla Walla. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Walla Walla gives you roughly$56,730 of real buying power versus $48,720 in the other city.