Waiters and Waitresses pay range in Memphis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $15,080 a year or less, while the top 10% make $47,480 or more. The middle half of waiters and waitresses in Memphis earn between $17,510 and $36,420.
- $15K10th
- $18K25th
- $25KMedian
- $36K75th
- $47K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $28,120 | $2,343 | $13.52 |
| Median | $24,550 | $2,046 | $11.80 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $17,510 | $1,459 | $8.42 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,420 | $3,035 | $17.51 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Waiters and Waitresses pay in Memphis vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Waiters and waitresses in Memphis earn 3% less than the Tennessee average ($29,070) and 30% less than the U.S. average ($40,060). At the median the gap is -30% against the U.S. median of $35,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $28,120 | $24,550 | $15,080 | $47,480 | 8,060 |
| Tennessee | $29,070 | $27,760 | $15,080 | $47,660 | 52,120 |
| 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 Memphis
On the average salary of $28,120, a single filer in Memphis takes home about $24,767 a year, or $2,064 a month and $953 every two weeks. Taxes take 12% of gross pay.
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $24,767 | $2,064 |
| Working in MS | $24,374 | $2,031 |
| Working in AR | $24,212 | $2,018 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Memphis a good place for waiters and waitresses? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Memphis area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.2), so the average $28,120 buys what about $30,506 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Memphis ($46,890). A typical home costs $247,229, or 8.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other Tennessee cities
Memphis ranks 5th of 10 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($31,580).
- Nashville$31,580
- Kingsport$31,460
- Knoxville$28,970
- Morristown$28,850
- Memphis$28,120
- Clarksville$27,420
- Chattanooga$27,210
- Johnson City$26,260
- Cleveland$25,860
- Jackson$25,680
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 Memphis: questions
How much do waiters and waitresses make an hour in Memphis?
$13.52 an hour on average, and $11.80 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level waiters and waitresses salary in Memphis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $15,080 a year and the 25th percentile is $17,510, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the waiters and waitresses take-home pay in Memphis?
About $24,767 a year ($2,064 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $28,120. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do waiters and waitresses earn more in Memphis than elsewhere?
The average here is 30% 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 Memphis, TN-MS-AR (32820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.7%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.90, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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