Waiter and Waitress Salary in Knoxville, TN
Waiters and Waitresses in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn a median $28,100 a year — 20% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $24,750 take-home, or $2,063 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Knoxville, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,200
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,742
- Medicare (1.45%)$407
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$24,750
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 0.00% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Knoxville, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,080 | $7.25 | $13,926 | $1,161 |
| 25th percentile | $15,450 | $7.43 | $14,268 | $1,189 |
| Median (50th) | $28,100 | $13.51 | $24,750 | $2,063 |
| 75th percentile | $37,870 | $18.21 | $32,609 | $2,717 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,790 | $22.98 | $40,579 | $3,382 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $28,100 buys in Knoxville, TN
Prices in Knoxville, TN are 7.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 17% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $24,750 take-home pay has the buying power of $26,737 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 Knoxville, TN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.17).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Knoxville, TN ranks #103 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 |
| 103 | Knoxville, TN | $28,100 | $24,750 | $26,737 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 148 metros →
Waiter and Waitress salaries elsewhere in Tennessee
- Nashville, TN — $29,390
- Memphis, TN — $24,550
- Chattanooga, TN — $24,240
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Knoxville, TN?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Knoxville, TN metro area is $28,100 a year, or about $13.51 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $15,450 and $37,870.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Knoxville, TN?
On the median $28,100 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $24,750 a year ($2,063 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Knoxville, TN a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 20% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 7.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $26,737 would in a typical U.S. city. Knoxville, TN ranks #103 of 148 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Knoxville, TN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Knoxville, TN is $1,126 a month ($1,401 for two bedrooms) — 55% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Knoxville, TN
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $41,380
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,520
- Food Preparation Worker — $30,960
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,720