Waiter and Waitress Salary in Lafayette, LA
Waiters and Waitresses in the Lafayette, LA metro area earn a median $15,080 a year — 57% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $13,860 take-home, or $1,155 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Lafayette, LA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$0
- Social Security (6.2%)$935
- Medicare (1.45%)$219
- Louisiana income tax$66
- Take-home pay$13,860
Marginal rate: 0% federal + 3.00% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Lafayette, LA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,080 | $7.25 | $13,860 | $1,155 |
| 25th percentile | $15,080 | $7.25 | $13,860 | $1,155 |
| Median (50th) | $15,080 | $7.25 | $13,860 | $1,155 |
| 75th percentile | $22,240 | $10.69 | $19,644 | $1,637 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,320 | $17.46 | $30,660 | $2,555 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Louisiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $15,080 buys in Lafayette, LA
Prices in Lafayette, LA are 12.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 41% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $13,860 take-home pay has the buying power of $15,893 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Lafayette, LA 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
Lafayette, LA ranks #373 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 |
| 373 | Lafayette, LA | $15,080 | $13,860 | $15,893 |
*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 Louisiana
- Monroe, LA — $15,080
- New Orleans, LA — $16,640
- Hammond, LA — $15,080
- Shreveport, LA — $15,080
- Houma, LA — $15,080
- Alexandria, LA — $15,080
- Lake Charles, LA — $15,080
- Baton Rouge, LA — $15,080
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Lafayette, LA?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Lafayette, LA metro area is $15,080 a year, or about $7.25 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $15,080 and $22,240.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Lafayette, LA?
On the median $15,080 salary, a single filer living in Louisiana takes home about $13,860 a year ($1,155 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $66 in Louisiana taxes in 2026.
Is Lafayette, LA a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 57% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 12.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $15,893 would in a typical U.S. city. Lafayette, LA ranks #373 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Lafayette, LA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Lafayette, LA is $847 a month ($974 for two bedrooms) — 73% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Lafayette, LA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $35,000
- Cooks, Restaurant — $27,660
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $26,400
- Dishwasher — $25,300
- Food Preparation Worker — $22,920
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $22,320
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $21,650
- Bartender — $19,070