Waiter and Waitress Salary in Chattanooga, TN
Waiters and Waitresses in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area earn a median $24,240 a year — 31% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $21,572 take-home, or $1,798 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Chattanooga, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$814
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,503
- Medicare (1.45%)$351
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$21,572
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 0.00% state
The Chattanooga, TN-GA metro spans Tennessee, Georgia. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Chattanooga, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,080 | $7.25 | $13,926 | $1,161 |
| 25th percentile | $15,080 | $7.25 | $13,926 | $1,161 |
| Median (50th) | $24,240 | $11.65 | $21,572 | $1,798 |
| 75th percentile | $36,240 | $17.42 | $31,299 | $2,608 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,970 | $22.58 | $39,920 | $3,327 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $24,240 buys in Chattanooga, TN
Prices in Chattanooga, TN are 8.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 23% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $21,572 take-home pay has the buying power of $23,585 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Chattanooga, TN has 1.2× 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
Chattanooga, TN ranks #294 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 |
| 294 | Chattanooga, TN | $24,240 | $21,572 | $23,585 |
*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 Tennessee
- Kingsport, TN — $28,210
- Morristown, TN — $27,370
- Nashville, TN — $29,390
- Knoxville, TN — $28,100
- Memphis, TN — $24,550
- Cleveland, TN — $23,300
- Johnson City, TN — $22,070
- Jackson, TN — $20,490
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Chattanooga, TN?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area is $24,240 a year, or about $11.65 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $15,080 and $36,240.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Chattanooga, TN?
On the median $24,240 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $21,572 a year ($1,798 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Chattanooga, TN a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 31% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 8.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $23,585 would in a typical U.S. city. Chattanooga, TN ranks #294 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Chattanooga, TN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chattanooga, TN is $1,263 a month ($1,390 for two bedrooms) — 70% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chattanooga, TN
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $39,220
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,010
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $33,410
- Food Preparation Worker — $30,300
- Dishwasher — $29,430
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $27,870
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $27,750
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,140
- Cooks, Fast Food — $26,890
- Bartender — $25,650