Waiters and Waitresses salary in Lafayette, LA
Waiters and Waitresses in the Lafayette, LA metro area earn a median of $15,080 a year ($7.25 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,410 workers.
Pay ranges from $15,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,320 for the top 10%. That is 57% lower than the national median of $35,230. Pay here is about the same as the Louisiana statewide median of $15,080. There are 19 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $21,440, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Lafayette, LA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,080 | $7.25 |
| 25th percentile | $15,080 | $7.25 |
| Median | $15,080 | $7.25 |
| 75th percentile | $22,240 | $10.69 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,320 | $17.46 |
| Average (mean) | $21,440 | $10.31 |
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 | $1,256.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $628.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $580 |
| Weekly | $290 |
| Hourly | $7.25 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $16,640 | 10,050 |
| Alexandria, LA | $15,080 | 750 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $15,080 | 6,650 |
| Hammond, LA | $15,080 | 1,050 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $15,080 | 1,210 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $15,080 | 1,950 |
| Monroe, LA | $15,080 | 1,370 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $15,080 | 2,620 |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $15,080 | 2,520 |
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 Louisiana statewide figures.
Related jobs in Lafayette, LA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $22,320 | $10.73 |
| Bartender | $19,070 | $9.17 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $27,860 | $13.39 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $22,920 | $11.02 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $35,000 | $16.83 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $27,660 | $13.30 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $21,650 | $10.41 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $26,400 | $12.69 |
| Dishwasher | $25,300 | $12.16 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,520 | $13.23 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $19,420 | $9.34 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $42,060 | $20.22 |
| Cooks, All Other | $26,140 | $12.57 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $24,340 | $11.70 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Lafayette, LA
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 Lafayette, LA?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in the Lafayette, LA metro area is $15,080 a year, or $7.25 an hour. Pay ranges from $15,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,320 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Lafayette, LA?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in the Lafayette, LA metro area earn at least $36,320 a year. The top 25% earn $22,240 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Lafayette, LA?
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 Lafayette, LA?
About 3,410 waiters and waitresses are employed in the Lafayette, LA metro area, not counting the self-employed.