Waiter and Waitress Salary in Elizabethtown, KY
Waiters and Waitresses in the Elizabethtown, KY metro area earn a median $30,270 a year — 14% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,560 take-home, or $2,130 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Elizabethtown, KY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,452
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,877
- Medicare (1.45%)$439
- Kentucky income tax$942
- Take-home pay$25,560
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.50% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Elizabethtown, KY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $16,150 | $7.76 | $14,462 | $1,205 |
| 25th percentile | $18,260 | $8.78 | $16,126 | $1,344 |
| Median (50th) | $30,270 | $14.55 | $25,560 | $2,130 |
| 75th percentile | $47,460 | $22.82 | $38,771 | $3,231 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,300 | $28.99 | $48,638 | $4,053 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Kentucky resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $30,270 buys in Elizabethtown, KY
Prices in Elizabethtown, KY are 9.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 33% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $25,560 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,221 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 Elizabethtown, KY as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.00).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Elizabethtown, KY ranks #191 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 |
| 191 | Elizabethtown, KY | $30,270 | $25,560 | $28,221 |
*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
- Louisville, KY — $30,180
- Bowling Green, KY — $28,810
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Elizabethtown, KY?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Elizabethtown, KY metro area is $30,270 a year, or about $14.55 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $18,260 and $47,460.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Elizabethtown, KY?
On the median $30,270 salary, a single filer living in Kentucky takes home about $25,560 a year ($2,130 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $942 in Kentucky taxes in 2026.
Is Elizabethtown, KY a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 14% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 9.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,221 would in a typical U.S. city. Elizabethtown, KY ranks #191 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Elizabethtown, KY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Elizabethtown, KY is $846 a month ($1,056 for two bedrooms) — 40% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Elizabethtown, KY
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $35,800
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,260
- Cooks, Fast Food — $23,870
- Food Preparation Worker — $23,600