Waiters and Waitresses salary in Kansas City, MO-KS
Waiters and Waitresses in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area earn a median of $36,080 a year ($17.35 an hour), based on BLS data for 16,540 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,260 for the top 10%. That is 2% higher than the national median of $35,230. Pay here is 23% higher than the Missouri statewide median of $29,400. There are 15 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $40,660, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Kansas City, MO-KS
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,600 | $13.75 |
| 25th percentile | $28,600 | $13.75 |
| Median | $36,080 | $17.35 |
| 75th percentile | $47,480 | $22.83 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,260 | $30.41 |
| Average (mean) | $40,660 | $19.55 |
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 | $3,006.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,503.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,387.69 |
| Weekly | $693.85 |
| Hourly | $17.35 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Wichita, KS | $37,300 | 4,570 |
| Lawrence, KS | $37,230 | 1,190 |
| Topeka, KS | $35,090 | 1,330 |
| Manhattan, KS | $33,140 | 940 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $31,200 | 20,170 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | $30,490 | 600 |
| Jefferson City, MO | $30,280 | 820 |
| Springfield, MO | $29,350 | 3,050 |
| Columbia, MO | $29,250 | 2,120 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $28,710 | 820 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | $28,600 | 1,220 |
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 Missouri statewide figures.
Related jobs in Kansas City, MO-KS
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,560 | $14.21 |
| Bartender | $30,300 | $14.57 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $33,620 | $16.16 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $30,170 | $14.50 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,370 | $17.97 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $39,210 | $18.85 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $32,230 | $15.49 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,080 | $17.35 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,280 | $14.08 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $30,200 | $14.52 |
| Dishwasher | $34,800 | $16.73 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $64,010 | $30.77 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $29,810 | $14.33 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $35,820 | $17.22 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Kansas City, MO-KS
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 Kansas City, MO-KS?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area is $36,080 a year, or $17.35 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,260 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Kansas City, MO-KS?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area earn at least $63,260 a year. The top 25% earn $47,480 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Kansas City, MO-KS?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,600 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $28,600 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in Kansas City, MO-KS?
About 16,540 waiters and waitresses are employed in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area, not counting the self-employed.