Waiters and Waitresses salary in St. Louis, MO-IL
Waiters and Waitresses in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median of $31,200 a year ($15.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 20,170 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,520 for the top 10%. That is 11% lower than the national median of $35,230. Pay here is 6% higher than the Missouri statewide median of $29,400. There are 15 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $39,070, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in St. Louis, MO-IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,600 | $13.75 |
| 25th percentile | $28,600 | $13.75 |
| Median | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 75th percentile | $38,790 | $18.65 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,520 | $30.06 |
| Average (mean) | $39,070 | $18.79 |
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 | $2,600 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,300 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,200 |
| Weekly | $600 |
| Hourly | $15.00 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $36,080 | 16,540 |
| 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 |
| Springfield, IL | $31,200 | 1,600 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | $30,490 | 600 |
| Jefferson City, MO | $30,280 | 820 |
| Springfield, MO | $29,350 | 3,050 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $29,280 | 1,010 |
| 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. Louis, MO-IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $31,260 | $15.03 |
| Bartender | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,340 | $16.51 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $30,860 | $14.84 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,690 | $18.12 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,520 | $18.52 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,930 | $15.35 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $32,400 | $15.58 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,200 | $17.40 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Dishwasher | $32,180 | $15.47 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $64,480 | $31.00 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $38,490 | $18.50 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $28,600 | $13.75 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in St. Louis, MO-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 St. Louis, MO-IL?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $31,200 a year, or $15.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,520 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in St. Louis, MO-IL?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn at least $62,520 a year. The top 25% earn $38,790 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in St. Louis, MO-IL?
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. Louis, MO-IL?
About 20,170 waiters and waitresses are employed in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.