Waiters and Waitresses salary in Knoxville, TN
Waiters and Waitresses in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn a median of $28,100 a year ($13.51 an hour), based on BLS data for 7,260 workers.
Pay ranges from $15,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,790 for the top 10%. That is 20% lower than the national median of $35,230. Pay here is 1% higher than the Tennessee statewide median of $27,760. There are 17 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $28,970, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Knoxville, TN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,080 | $7.25 |
| 25th percentile | $15,450 | $7.43 |
| Median | $28,100 | $13.51 |
| 75th percentile | $37,870 | $18.21 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,790 | $22.97 |
| Average (mean) | $28,970 | $13.93 |
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 | $2,341.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,170.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,080.77 |
| Weekly | $540.38 |
| Hourly | $13.51 |
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 |
| Morristown, TN | $27,370 | 630 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $24,550 | 8,060 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $24,240 | 4,790 |
| Cleveland, TN | $23,300 | 720 |
| Johnson City, TN | $22,070 | 1,460 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $21,790 | 1,570 |
| Jackson, TN | $20,490 | 930 |
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 Knoxville, TN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,720 | $13.33 |
| Bartender | $28,860 | $13.87 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $29,100 | $13.99 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $41,380 | $19.89 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,520 | $17.56 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,960 | $14.89 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,580 | $13.26 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,250 | $13.10 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $30,080 | $14.46 |
| Dishwasher | $29,530 | $14.20 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,150 | $16.90 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $35,970 | $17.29 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $62,770 | $30.18 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $30,210 | $14.52 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Knoxville, TN
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 Knoxville, TN?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in the Knoxville, TN metro area is $28,100 a year, or $13.51 an hour. Pay ranges from $15,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,790 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Knoxville, TN?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn at least $47,790 a year. The top 25% earn $37,870 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Knoxville, TN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $15,080 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $15,450 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in Knoxville, TN?
About 7,260 waiters and waitresses are employed in the Knoxville, TN metro area, not counting the self-employed.