Waiter and Waitress Salary in Louisville, KY
Waiters and Waitresses in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area earn a median $30,180 a year — 14% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,491 take-home, or $2,124 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Louisville, KY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,442
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,871
- Medicare (1.45%)$438
- Kentucky income tax$939
- Take-home pay$25,491
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.50% state
The Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro spans Kentucky, Indiana. 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 Louisville, KY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $17,070 | $8.21 | $15,187 | $1,266 |
| 25th percentile | $20,970 | $10.08 | $18,262 | $1,522 |
| Median (50th) | $30,180 | $14.51 | $25,491 | $2,124 |
| 75th percentile | $46,040 | $22.13 | $37,679 | $3,140 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,500 | $30.53 | $51,097 | $4,258 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Kentucky resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $30,180 buys in Louisville, KY
Prices in Louisville, KY are 6.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $25,491 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,388 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 Louisville, KY as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.02).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Louisville, KY ranks #92 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 |
| 92 | Louisville, KY | $30,180 | $25,491 | $27,388 |
*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 Kentucky
- Lexington, KY — $34,910
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Louisville, KY?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area is $30,180 a year, or about $14.51 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $20,970 and $46,040.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Louisville, KY?
On the median $30,180 salary, a single filer living in Kentucky takes home about $25,491 a year ($2,124 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $939 in Kentucky taxes in 2026.
Is Louisville, 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 6.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,388 would in a typical U.S. city. Louisville, KY ranks #92 of 148 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Louisville, KY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Louisville, KY is $1,026 a month ($1,248 for two bedrooms) — 48% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Louisville, KY
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,800
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $37,370
- Cooks, Restaurant — $35,950
- Food Preparation Worker — $29,640
- Bartender — $29,120
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,690
- Cooks, Fast Food — $26,990