Waiters and Waitresses salary in St. Joseph, MO-KS
Waiters and Waitresses in the St. Joseph, MO-KS metro area earn a median of $30,490 a year ($14.66 an hour), based on BLS data for 600 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,750 for the top 10%. That is 13% lower than the national median of $35,230. Pay here is 4% higher than the Missouri statewide median of $29,400. There are 11 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.76). The average (mean) salary is $37,510, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in St. Joseph, MO-KS
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,600 | $13.75 |
| 25th percentile | $28,600 | $13.75 |
| Median | $30,490 | $14.66 |
| 75th percentile | $39,720 | $19.10 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,750 | $28.25 |
| Average (mean) | $37,510 | $18.04 |
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 | $2,540.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,270.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,172.69 |
| Weekly | $586.35 |
| Hourly | $14.66 |
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 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $36,080 | 16,540 |
| Topeka, KS | $35,090 | 1,330 |
| Manhattan, KS | $33,140 | 940 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $31,200 | 20,170 |
| 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 St. Joseph, MO-KS
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,430 | $14.15 |
| Bartender | $29,000 | $13.94 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $30,210 | $14.52 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,620 | $14.24 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $28,960 | $13.92 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $36,900 | $17.74 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,560 | $17.09 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $34,070 | $16.38 |
| Dishwasher | $30,550 | $14.69 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,460 | $14.16 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,600 | $13.75 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in St. Joseph, 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 St. Joseph, MO-KS?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in the St. Joseph, MO-KS metro area is $30,490 a year, or $14.66 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,750 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in St. Joseph, MO-KS?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in the St. Joseph, MO-KS metro area earn at least $58,750 a year. The top 25% earn $39,720 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in St. Joseph, 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 St. Joseph, MO-KS?
About 600 waiters and waitresses are employed in the St. Joseph, MO-KS metro area, not counting the self-employed.