Waiters and Waitresses salary in Jackson, MS
Waiters and Waitresses in the Jackson, MS metro area earn a median of $21,440 a year ($10.31 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,750 workers.
Pay ranges from $15,430 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,380 for the top 10%. That is 39% lower than the national median of $35,230. Pay here is about the same as the Mississippi statewide median of $21,370. There are 10 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.70). The average (mean) salary is $25,460, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Jackson, MS
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,430 | $7.42 |
| 25th percentile | $16,110 | $7.75 |
| Median | $21,440 | $10.31 |
| 75th percentile | $30,540 | $14.68 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,380 | $21.34 |
| Average (mean) | $25,460 | $12.24 |
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 | $1,786.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $893.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $824.62 |
| Weekly | $412.31 |
| Hourly | $10.31 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $24,550 | 8,060 |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $22,600 | 3,910 |
| Hattiesburg, MS | $21,830 | 1,010 |
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 Mississippi statewide figures.
Related jobs in Jackson, MS
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $22,630 | $10.88 |
| Bartender | $29,230 | $14.05 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $28,940 | $13.92 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $22,310 | $10.73 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $29,260 | $14.07 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $37,720 | $18.13 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $27,200 | $13.08 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $26,980 | $12.97 |
| Dishwasher | $26,150 | $12.57 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $24,400 | $11.73 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $21,990 | $10.57 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $28,450 | $13.68 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $64,480 | $31.00 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $30,570 | $14.70 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Jackson, MS
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 Jackson, MS?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in the Jackson, MS metro area is $21,440 a year, or $10.31 an hour. Pay ranges from $15,430 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,380 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Jackson, MS?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in the Jackson, MS metro area earn at least $44,380 a year. The top 25% earn $30,540 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Jackson, MS?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $15,430 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $16,110 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in Jackson, MS?
About 2,750 waiters and waitresses are employed in the Jackson, MS metro area, not counting the self-employed.