Waiter and Waitress Salary in Memphis, TN
Waiters and Waitresses in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area earn a median $24,550 a year — 30% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $21,827 take-home, or $1,819 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Memphis, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$845
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,522
- Medicare (1.45%)$356
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$21,827
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 0.00% state
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro spans Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Memphis, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,080 | $7.25 | $13,926 | $1,161 |
| 25th percentile | $17,510 | $8.42 | $16,029 | $1,336 |
| Median (50th) | $24,550 | $11.80 | $21,827 | $1,819 |
| 75th percentile | $36,420 | $17.51 | $31,443 | $2,620 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,480 | $22.83 | $40,330 | $3,361 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $24,550 buys in Memphis, TN
Prices in Memphis, TN are 7.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 20% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $21,827 take-home pay has the buying power of $23,679 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 Memphis, TN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.90).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Memphis, TN ranks #117 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 |
| 117 | Memphis, TN | $24,550 | $21,827 | $23,679 |
*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
- Knoxville, TN — $28,100
- Chattanooga, TN — $24,240
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Memphis, TN?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area is $24,550 a year, or about $11.80 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $17,510 and $36,420.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Memphis, TN?
On the median $24,550 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $21,827 a year ($1,819 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Memphis, TN a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 30% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 7.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $23,679 would in a typical U.S. city. Memphis, TN ranks #117 of 148 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Memphis, TN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Memphis, TN is $1,137 a month ($1,263 for two bedrooms) — 63% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Memphis, TN
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $39,620
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,340
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,490
- Food Preparation Worker — $27,290