Waiter and Waitress Salary in Kansas City, MO
Waiters and Waitresses in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area earn a median $36,080 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,412 take-home, or $2,534 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Kansas City, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,150
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,237
- Medicare (1.45%)$523
- Missouri income tax$758
- Take-home pay$30,412
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
Living in Kansas City, MO? City residents also pay Kansas City, MO’s Earnings Tax — about $361 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $30,051 ($2,504 a month). Choose “Kansas City, MO” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The Kansas City, MO-KS metro spans Missouri, Kansas. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Kansas City, 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) | $36,080 | $17.35 | $30,412 | $2,534 |
| 75th percentile | $47,480 | $22.83 | $39,036 | $3,253 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,260 | $30.41 | $50,974 | $4,248 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,080 buys in Kansas City, MO
Prices in Kansas City, MO are 7.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 13% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $30,412 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,862 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 Kansas City, MO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.03).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Kansas City, MO ranks #31 of 148 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 | Seattle, WA | $57,280 | $48,204 | $43,375 |
| 3 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $60,250 | $47,542 | $42,846 |
| 4 | Spokane, WA | $48,560 | $41,198 | $41,056 |
| 5 | Syracuse, NY | $47,640 | $38,483 | $40,195 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $54,780 | $42,232 | $40,060 |
| 7 | Albany, NY | $48,980 | $39,488 | $39,660 |
| 8 | Buffalo, NY | $46,580 | $37,689 | $39,323 |
| 31 | Kansas City, MO | $36,080 | $30,412 | $32,862 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 148 metros →
About the job: waiters and waitresses
Take orders and serve food and beverages to patrons at tables in dining establishment.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.0% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Waiter and Waitress salaries elsewhere in Missouri
- Springfield, MO — $29,350
- St. Louis, MO — $31,200
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Kansas City, MO?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area is $36,080 a year, or about $17.35 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,600 and $47,480.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Kansas City, MO?
On the median $36,080 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $30,412 a year ($2,534 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $758 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is Kansas City, MO a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 7.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,862 would in a typical U.S. city. Kansas City, MO ranks #31 of 148 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Kansas City, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Kansas City, MO is $1,193 a month ($1,355 for two bedrooms) — 47% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Kansas City, MO
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $39,210
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,370
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $36,080
- Dishwasher — $34,800
- Food Preparation Worker — $32,230
- Bartender — $30,300
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $30,200
- Cooks, Fast Food — $30,170
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,560
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $29,280