Waiters and Waitresses pay range in Joplin
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,600 a year or less, while the top 10% make $58,800 or more. The middle half of waiters and waitresses in Joplin earn between $28,600 and $37,000.
- $29K10th
- $29K25th
- $29KMedian
- $37K75th
- $59K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $36,810 | $3,068 | $17.70 |
| Median | $28,600 | $2,383 | $13.75 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $28,600 | $2,383 | $13.75 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,000 | $3,083 | $17.79 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Waiters and Waitresses pay in Joplin vs. Missouri and the U.S.
Waiters and waitresses in Joplin earn 5% less than the Missouri average ($38,620) and 8% less than the U.S. average ($40,060). At the median the gap is -19% against the U.S. median of $35,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joplin | $36,810 | $28,600 | $28,600 | $58,800 | 1,220 |
| Missouri | $38,620 | $29,400 | $28,600 | $61,440 | 41,640 |
| 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 Joplin
On the average salary of $36,810, a single filer in Joplin takes home about $30,964 a year, or $2,580 a month and $1,191 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
The Joplin, MO-KS metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in MO | $30,964 | $2,580 |
| Working in KS | $30,503 | $2,542 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). The 1% earnings tax applies to people who live or work in Kansas City or St. Louis itself, not in the suburbs.
Is Joplin a good place for waiters and waitresses? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Joplin area are 14% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 85.7), so the average $36,810 buys what about $42,943 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Joplin ($44,980). A typical home costs $226,857, or 6.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other Missouri cities
Joplin ranks 7th of 8 Missouri metro areas for this job; Kansas City pays the most ($40,660).
- Kansas City$40,660
- St. Louis$39,070
- St. Joseph$37,510
- Springfield$37,120
- Columbia$36,910
- Cape Girardeau$36,880
- Joplin$36,810
- Jefferson City$36,260
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 Joplin: questions
How much do waiters and waitresses make an hour in Joplin?
$17.70 an hour on average, and $13.75 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level waiters and waitresses salary in Joplin?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,600 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,600, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the waiters and waitresses take-home pay in Joplin?
About $30,964 a year ($2,580 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $36,810. The 1% earnings tax applies to people who live or work in Kansas City or St. Louis itself, not in the suburbs.
Do waiters and waitresses earn more in Joplin than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% 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 Joplin, MO-KS (27900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.6%.
- 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). The 1% earnings tax applies to people who live or work in Kansas City or St. Louis itself, not in the suburbs.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.96, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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