Waiters and Waitresses salary in Tennessee
Waiters and Waitresses in Tennessee earn a median of $27,760 a year ($13.35 an hour), based on BLS data for 52,120 workers.
Pay ranges from $15,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,660 for the top 10%. That is 21% lower than the national median of $35,230. Tennessee ranks 37th of 51 states for waiters and waitresses pay. There are 16 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $29,070, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Tennessee
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,080 | $7.25 |
| 25th percentile | $16,790 | $8.07 |
| Median | $27,760 | $13.35 |
| 75th percentile | $37,380 | $17.97 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,660 | $22.92 |
| Average (mean) | $29,070 | $13.98 |
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 | $2,313.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,156.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,067.69 |
| Weekly | $533.85 |
| Hourly | $13.35 |
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 Tennessee
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $29,390 | 19,490 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $28,210 | 1,800 |
| Knoxville, TN | $28,100 | 7,260 |
| Morristown, TN | $27,370 | 630 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $24,550 | 8,060 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $24,240 | 4,790 |
| Cleveland, TN | $23,300 | 720 |
| Johnson City, TN | $22,070 | 1,460 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $21,790 | 1,570 |
| Jackson, TN | $20,490 | 930 |
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 Tennessee
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,470 | $13.21 |
| Bartender | $27,480 | $13.21 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $30,670 | $14.75 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $40,500 | $19.47 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,420 | $17.51 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $28,700 | $13.80 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,330 | $13.62 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,470 | $14.17 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,490 | $13.22 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,570 | $17.10 |
| Dishwasher | $30,530 | $14.68 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $69,810 | $33.56 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $36,640 | $17.61 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $30,210 | $14.52 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Tennessee
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 Tennessee?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in Tennessee is $27,760 a year, or $13.35 an hour. Pay ranges from $15,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,660 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Tennessee?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in Tennessee earn at least $47,660 a year. The top 25% earn $37,380 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Tennessee?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $15,080 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $16,790 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in Tennessee?
About 52,120 waiters and waitresses are employed in Tennessee, not counting the self-employed.