Waiter and Waitress Salary in Cape Girardeau, MO
Waiters and Waitresses in the Cape Girardeau, MO-IL metro area earn a median $28,710 a year — 19% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $24,836 take-home, or $2,070 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Cape Girardeau, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,265
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,780
- Medicare (1.45%)$416
- Missouri income tax$412
- Take-home pay$24,836
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
The Cape Girardeau, MO-IL metro spans Missouri, Illinois. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Cape Girardeau, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,600 | $13.75 | $24,753 | $2,063 |
| 25th percentile | $28,600 | $13.75 | $24,753 | $2,063 |
| Median (50th) | $28,710 | $13.80 | $24,836 | $2,070 |
| 75th percentile | $37,290 | $17.93 | $31,327 | $2,611 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,520 | $29.10 | $48,901 | $4,075 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $28,710 buys in Cape Girardeau, MO
Prices in Cape Girardeau, MO are 13.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 44% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $24,836 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,853 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cape Girardeau, MO has 1.3× the national concentration of waiter and waitress jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Cape Girardeau, MO ranks #173 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 |
| 173 | Cape Girardeau, MO | $28,710 | $24,836 | $28,853 |
*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 Missouri
- Kansas City, MO — $36,080
- St. Joseph, MO — $30,490
- Jefferson City, MO — $30,280
- Joplin, MO — $28,600
- Springfield, MO — $29,350
- Columbia, MO — $29,250
- St. Louis, MO — $31,200
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Cape Girardeau, MO?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Cape Girardeau, MO-IL metro area is $28,710 a year, or about $13.80 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,600 and $37,290.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Cape Girardeau, MO?
On the median $28,710 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $24,836 a year ($2,070 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $412 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is Cape Girardeau, MO a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 19% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 13.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,853 would in a typical U.S. city. Cape Girardeau, MO ranks #173 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Cape Girardeau, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Cape Girardeau, MO is $807 a month ($992 for two bedrooms) — 39% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Cape Girardeau, MO
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,810
- Cooks, Fast Food — $28,820