Waiters and Waitresses Salary
In Tennessee, waiters and waitresses earn $27,760 at the median, or about $13.35 an hour. The range runs from $15K at the entry level to $48K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $30,920 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,215/month, about 58.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $28K get you in Tennessee?
About waiters and waitresses
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Pay for waiters and waitresses in Tennessee runs about 21% below the U.S. median of $35K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,215/month, which is 59.9% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for waiters and waitressess.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level waiters and waitresses (10th percentile) start around $15K. Mid-career wages sit at $28K. Top earners bring in $48K or more, a $33K spread from bottom to top.
Waiters and Waitresses salary by metro in Tennessee
10 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $29K | +6% | 19,490 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $28K | +2% | 1,800 |
| Knoxville | $28K | +1% | 7,260 |
| Morristown | $27K | -1% | 630 |
| Memphis | $25K | -12% | 8,060 |
| Chattanooga | $24K | -13% | 4,790 |
| Cleveland | $23K | -16% | 720 |
| Johnson City | $22K | -20% | 1,460 |
| Clarksville | $22K | -22% | 1,570 |
| Jackson | $20K | -26% | 930 |
Compare to other states
Track waiters and waitresses salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a waiters and waitress afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $28K, rent takes 59.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $600/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for waiters and waitresses in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new waiters and waitresses typically earn — is $15K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $905/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 134% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is waiters and waitress a high-paying job in Tennessee?
Local pay runs 21% below the national median — $28K here vs. $35K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for waiters and waitresses?
Tennessee pays $28K median vs. the U.S. average of $35K — that’s -21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $31K — below the national median.
How much do waiters and waitresses make in Tennessee?
The median is $27,760 a year, that works out to about $13 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $15,080, and experienced waiters and waitresses can clear $47,660. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $28K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,029/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 59.9% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a waiters and waitresses salary go in Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median waiters and waitresses salary is worth about $30,920 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do waiters and waitresses get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.