Salary comparison
Waiters and Waitresses: Walla Walla vs Olympia
Walla Walla, WA pays about 7.0% more for waiters and waitresses on paper — $56,730 vs $53,000. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Walla Walla comes out ahead by $3,730 a year in real buying power.
Walla Walla, WA
$56,730
$45,050
$73,380
$27.27
100
$56,730/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Olympia, WA
$53,000
$45,630
$69,690
$25.48
100
$53,000/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $3,730 a year (7.0%) in favor of Walla Walla. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Walla Walla runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Olympia sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Walla Walla is the better deal by $3,730 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Olympia to Walla Walla for this role, the raise needs to beat 7.0% 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, Walla Walla or Olympia?
Walla Walla pays $56,730 on median — about 7.0% more than Olympia ($53,000). 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 $53,000 in the other city.