Waiters and Waitresses pay range in Bowling Green
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $16,070 a year or less, while the top 10% make $60,390 or more. The middle half of waiters and waitresses in Bowling Green earn between $17,200 and $44,550.
- $16K10th
- $17K25th
- $29KMedian
- $45K75th
- $60K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $34,080 | $2,840 | $16.38 |
| Median | $28,810 | $2,401 | $13.85 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $17,200 | $1,433 | $8.27 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $44,550 | $3,712 | $21.42 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Waiters and Waitresses pay in Bowling Green vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Waiters and waitresses in Bowling Green earn 4% less than the Kentucky average ($35,410) and 15% less than the U.S. average ($40,060). At the median the gap is -18% against the U.S. median of $35,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green | $34,080 | $28,810 | $16,070 | $60,390 | 1,250 |
| Kentucky | $35,410 | $29,660 | $16,520 | $62,030 | 27,150 |
| United States | $40,060 | $35,230 | $18,100 | $64,720 | 2,270,910 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Waiters and Waitresses salary after taxes in Bowling Green
On the average salary of $34,080, a single filer in Bowling Green takes home about $27,806 a year, or $2,317 a month and $1,069 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Bowling Green's local income tax (2%).
Is Bowling Green a good place for waiters and waitresses? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Bowling Green area are 10% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.2), so the average $34,080 buys what about $37,792 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Bowling Green ($45,040). A typical home costs $267,047, or 7.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other Kentucky cities
Bowling Green ranks 5th of 6 Kentucky metro areas for this job; Lexington pays the most ($37,250).
- Lexington$37,250
- Louisville$36,360
- Owensboro$36,260
- Elizabethtown$35,920
- Bowling Green$34,080
- Paducah$33,040
Highest-paying cities for waiters and waitresses
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($87,210).
- Kahului, HI$87,210
- Seattle, WA$62,940
- Honolulu, HI$61,880
- Bremerton, WA$61,770
- Burlington, VT$61,070
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Waiters and Waitresses salary in Bowling Green: questions
How much do waiters and waitresses make an hour in Bowling Green?
$16.39 an hour on average, and $13.85 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level waiters and waitresses salary in Bowling Green?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $16,070 a year and the 25th percentile is $17,200, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the waiters and waitresses take-home pay in Bowling Green?
About $27,806 a year ($2,317 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $34,080. Includes Bowling Green's local income tax (2%).
Do waiters and waitresses earn more in Bowling Green than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% less than the U.S. average for this job ($40,060).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-3031; area Bowling Green, KY (14540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.2%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Bowling Green's local income tax (2%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.04, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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