Waiters and Waitresses salary in Paducah, KY-IL
Waiters and Waitresses in the Paducah, KY-IL metro area earn a median of $29,280 a year ($14.08 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,010 workers.
Pay ranges from $15,970 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,810 for the top 10%. That is 17% lower than the national median of $35,230. Pay here is 1% lower than the Kentucky statewide median of $29,660. There are 20 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $33,040, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Paducah, KY-IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,970 | $7.68 |
| 25th percentile | $16,510 | $7.94 |
| Median | $29,280 | $14.08 |
| 75th percentile | $39,140 | $18.82 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $57,810 | $27.79 |
| Average (mean) | $33,040 | $15.89 |
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 | $2,440 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,220 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,126.15 |
| Weekly | $563.08 |
| Hourly | $14.08 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $36,530 | 17,790 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $34,910 | 5,020 |
| Bloomington, IL | $31,200 | 1,370 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $31,200 | 1,500 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $31,200 | 54,100 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $31,200 | 2,680 |
| Decatur, IL | $31,200 | 530 |
| Kankakee, IL | $31,200 | 550 |
| Peoria, IL | $31,200 | 2,340 |
| Rockford, IL | $31,200 | 1,710 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $31,200 | 20,170 |
| Springfield, IL | $31,200 | 1,600 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $30,690 | 1,720 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $30,270 | 760 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $30,180 | 10,220 |
| Owensboro, KY | $29,790 | 780 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $28,810 | 1,250 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $28,710 | 820 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $21,790 | 1,570 |
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 Kentucky statewide figures.
Related jobs in Paducah, KY-IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,640 | $13.29 |
| Bartender | $26,350 | $12.67 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $35,210 | $16.93 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $27,210 | $13.08 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,310 | $16.98 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $26,440 | $12.71 |
| Dishwasher | $29,520 | $14.19 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,030 | $13.00 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $44,720 | $21.50 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Paducah, KY-IL
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 Paducah, KY-IL?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in the Paducah, KY-IL metro area is $29,280 a year, or $14.08 an hour. Pay ranges from $15,970 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,810 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Paducah, KY-IL?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in the Paducah, KY-IL metro area earn at least $57,810 a year. The top 25% earn $39,140 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Paducah, KY-IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $15,970 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $16,510 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in Paducah, KY-IL?
About 1,010 waiters and waitresses are employed in the Paducah, KY-IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.