Waiters and Waitresses salary in Missouri
Waiters and Waitresses in Missouri earn a median of $29,400 a year ($14.13 an hour), based on BLS data for 41,640 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $61,440 for the top 10%. That is 17% lower than the national median of $35,230. Missouri ranks 34th of 51 states for waiters and waitresses pay. There are 14 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $38,620, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Missouri
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,600 | $13.75 |
| 25th percentile | $28,600 | $13.75 |
| Median | $29,400 | $14.13 |
| 75th percentile | $40,150 | $19.30 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $61,440 | $29.54 |
| Average (mean) | $38,620 | $18.57 |
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 | $2,450 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,225 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,130.77 |
| Weekly | $565.38 |
| Hourly | $14.13 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in cities in Missouri
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $36,080 | 16,540 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Missouri
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $30,390 | $14.61 |
| Bartender | $30,090 | $14.47 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,840 | $15.31 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,890 | $14.37 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,940 | $17.76 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $37,400 | $17.98 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $31,510 | $15.15 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $34,900 | $16.78 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,850 | $15.31 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,130 | $14.00 |
| Dishwasher | $32,150 | $15.46 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $64,480 | $31.00 |
| Cooks, All Other | $43,990 | $21.15 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $38,490 | $18.50 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Missouri
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 Missouri?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in Missouri is $29,400 a year, or $14.13 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $61,440 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Missouri?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in Missouri earn at least $61,440 a year. The top 25% earn $40,150 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Missouri?
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 Missouri?
About 41,640 waiters and waitresses are employed in Missouri, not counting the self-employed.