Waiters and Waitresses salary in Chattanooga, TN-GA
Waiters and Waitresses in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area earn a median of $24,240 a year ($11.66 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,790 workers.
Pay ranges from $15,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,970 for the top 10%. That is 31% lower than the national median of $35,230. Pay here is 13% lower than the Tennessee statewide median of $27,760. There are 18 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $27,210, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Chattanooga, TN-GA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,080 | $7.25 |
| 25th percentile | $15,080 | $7.25 |
| Median | $24,240 | $11.66 |
| 75th percentile | $36,240 | $17.42 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,970 | $22.58 |
| Average (mean) | $27,210 | $13.08 |
Half of waiters and waitresses earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,020 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,010 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $932.31 |
| Weekly | $466.15 |
| Hourly | $11.66 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $29,390 | 19,490 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $28,210 | 1,800 |
| Knoxville, TN | $28,100 | 7,260 |
| Morristown, TN | $27,370 | 630 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $24,550 | 8,060 |
| Cleveland, TN | $23,300 | 720 |
| Johnson City, TN | $22,070 | 1,460 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $21,790 | 1,570 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | $21,090 | 2,030 |
| Rome, GA | $20,980 | 740 |
| Savannah, GA | $20,830 | 4,940 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | $20,800 | 2,080 |
| Jackson, TN | $20,490 | 930 |
| Warner Robins, GA | $19,070 | 1,350 |
| Valdosta, GA | $18,510 | 1,150 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $18,460 | 45,880 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $18,390 | 3,820 |
| Albany, GA | $18,330 | 900 |
| Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $18,250 | 1,510 |
| Gainesville, GA | $17,980 | 1,390 |
| Dalton, GA | $17,930 | 680 |
| Macon-Bibb County, GA | $17,830 | 1,660 |
| Hinesville, GA | $17,640 | 280 |
Highest-paying states for waiters and waitresses
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $62,390 |
| Vermont | $59,140 |
| Washington | $56,130 |
| Oregon | $48,410 |
| District of Columbia | $47,850 |
| New York | $47,020 |
| New Jersey | $44,960 |
| Colorado | $44,860 |
| Virginia | $44,760 |
| Arizona | $43,950 |
See Waiters and Waitresses pay in every state or the Tennessee statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chattanooga, TN-GA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,140 | $13.05 |
| Bartender | $25,650 | $12.33 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $30,740 | $14.78 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $39,220 | $18.85 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,010 | $17.31 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,300 | $14.57 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,750 | $13.34 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $26,890 | $12.93 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $33,410 | $16.06 |
| Dishwasher | $29,430 | $14.15 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,870 | $13.40 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $37,410 | $17.99 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $63,690 | $30.62 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $29,950 | $14.40 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Chattanooga, TN-GA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-3031. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiters and waitresses make in Chattanooga, TN-GA?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area is $24,240 a year, or $11.66 an hour. Pay ranges from $15,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,970 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Chattanooga, TN-GA?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area earn at least $46,970 a year. The top 25% earn $36,240 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Chattanooga, TN-GA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $15,080 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $15,080 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in Chattanooga, TN-GA?
About 4,790 waiters and waitresses are employed in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area, not counting the self-employed.