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What does a Waiters and Waitresses salary really buy you in Utah?
Utah is 5.5% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Utah's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 94.5, meaning prices are 5.5% lower the national average. A Waiters and Waitresses earning $31,150 in Utah has the equivalent purchasing power of $32,962 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Utah's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $18,550 | $19,629 | +$1,079 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $22,470 | $23,777 | +$1,307 |
| Median (P50) | $31,150 | $32,962 | +$1,812 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $48,330 | $51,142 | +$2,812 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $60,320 | $63,830 | +$3,510 |
A Waiters and Waitresses in Utah earns $31,150 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 6% further — like earning $32,962 in an average-cost state. This makes Utah one of the best value states for this occupation.
With an RPP of 94.5, Utah is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for Waiters and Waitresses is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.
After applying Utah's RPP, the $31,150 median salary translates to $32,963 in real terms — a 5.8% gain. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Waiters and Waitresses.
Utah's rank of #29 of 51 states means real purchasing power for Waiters and Waitresses trails the national half-way line.
Where does Waiters and Waitresses salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Utah ranks #29 out of 51 states for Waiters and Waitresses after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Waiters and Waitresses take-home pay in Utah after taxes →
A Waiters and Waitresses in Utah earns a median salary of $31,150 per year. After adjusting for Utah's cost of living (RPP=94.5), the real purchasing power is $32,962 — a +5.8% difference.
Utah's cost of living is 5.5% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Utah is 94.5 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Waiters and Waitresses in Utah: $31,150 x (100 / 94.5) = $32,962. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Waiters and Waitresses in Utah enjoys 5.8% more buying power than the nominal salary suggests, because living costs are below the national average. However, other factors like job availability, career growth, and quality of life also matter.
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