Waiters and Waitresses pay range in Louisville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $17,070 a year or less, while the top 10% make $63,500 or more. The middle half of waiters and waitresses in Louisville earn between $20,970 and $46,040.
- $17K10th
- $21K25th
- $30KMedian
- $46K75th
- $64K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $36,360 | $3,030 | $17.48 |
| Median | $30,180 | $2,515 | $14.51 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $20,970 | $1,748 | $10.08 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $46,040 | $3,837 | $22.13 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Waiters and Waitresses pay in Louisville vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Waiters and waitresses in Louisville earn about the same as the Kentucky average ($35,410) and 9% less than the U.S. average ($40,060). At the median the gap is -14% against the U.S. median of $35,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | $36,360 | $30,180 | $17,070 | $63,500 | 10,220 |
| 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 Louisville
On the average salary of $36,360, a single filer in Louisville takes home about $29,440 a year, or $2,453 a month and $1,132 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
The Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $30,334 | $2,528 |
| Working in KY | $29,440 | $2,453 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
Is Louisville a good place for waiters and waitresses? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Louisville area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.1), so the average $36,360 buys what about $39,066 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Louisville ($48,370). A typical home costs $283,232, or 7.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other Kentucky cities
Louisville ranks 2nd 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 Louisville: questions
How much do waiters and waitresses make an hour in Louisville?
$17.48 an hour on average, and $14.51 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level waiters and waitresses salary in Louisville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $17,070 a year and the 25th percentile is $20,970, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the waiters and waitresses take-home pay in Louisville?
About $29,440 a year ($2,453 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $36,360. Includes Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
Do waiters and waitresses earn more in Louisville than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% 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 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN (31140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.3%.
- 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 Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.02, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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