Waiter and Waitress Salary in Bowling Green, KY
Waiters and Waitresses in the Bowling Green, KY metro area earn a median $28,810 a year — 18% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $24,438 take-home, or $2,037 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Bowling Green, KY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,277
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,786
- Medicare (1.45%)$418
- Kentucky income tax$891
- Take-home pay$24,438
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.50% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Bowling Green, KY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $16,070 | $7.73 | $14,396 | $1,200 |
| 25th percentile | $17,200 | $8.27 | $15,290 | $1,274 |
| Median (50th) | $28,810 | $13.85 | $24,438 | $2,037 |
| 75th percentile | $44,550 | $21.42 | $36,534 | $3,045 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,390 | $29.03 | $48,707 | $4,059 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Kentucky resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $28,810 buys in Bowling Green, KY
Prices in Bowling Green, KY are 9.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 37% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $24,438 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,100 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Waiter and Waitress jobs are about as common in Bowling Green, KY as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.04).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Bowling Green, KY ranks #228 of 375 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului, HI | $82,550 | $62,160 | $56,823 |
| 2 | Burlington, VT | $61,620 | $50,061 | $49,591 |
| 3 | Bellingham, WA | $56,700 | $47,738 | $46,198 |
| 4 | Bremerton, WA | $55,270 | $46,589 | $44,116 |
| 5 | Mount Vernon, WA | $53,060 | $44,814 | $43,745 |
| 6 | Yakima, WA | $49,060 | $41,600 | $43,539 |
| 7 | Kennewick, WA | $51,460 | $43,528 | $43,494 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $57,280 | $48,204 | $43,375 |
| 228 | Bowling Green, KY | $28,810 | $24,438 | $27,100 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 375 metros →
Waiter and Waitress salaries elsewhere in Kentucky
- Lexington, KY — $34,910
- Paducah, KY — $29,280
- Owensboro, KY — $29,790
- Elizabethtown, KY — $30,270
- Louisville, KY — $30,180
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Bowling Green, KY?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Bowling Green, KY metro area is $28,810 a year, or about $13.85 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $17,200 and $44,550.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Bowling Green, KY?
On the median $28,810 salary, a single filer living in Kentucky takes home about $24,438 a year ($2,037 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $891 in Kentucky taxes in 2026.
Is Bowling Green, KY a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 18% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 9.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,100 would in a typical U.S. city. Bowling Green, KY ranks #228 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Bowling Green, KY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Bowling Green, KY is $937 a month ($1,115 for two bedrooms) — 46% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Bowling Green, KY
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,150
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $31,550
- Cooks, Restaurant — $31,040
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,650
- Food Preparation Worker — $26,410
- Cooks, Fast Food — $23,450