Waiter and Waitress Salary in Nashville, TN
Waiters and Waitresses in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area earn a median $29,390 a year — 17% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,795 take-home, or $2,150 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Nashville, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,347
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,822
- Medicare (1.45%)$426
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$25,795
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Nashville, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,080 | $7.25 | $13,926 | $1,161 |
| 25th percentile | $20,000 | $9.62 | $18,080 | $1,507 |
| Median (50th) | $29,390 | $14.13 | $25,795 | $2,150 |
| 75th percentile | $38,490 | $18.50 | $33,107 | $2,759 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $50,050 | $24.06 | $42,395 | $3,533 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $29,390 buys in Nashville, TN
Prices in Nashville, TN are 3.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $25,795 take-home pay has the buying power of $26,775 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Nashville, TN has 1.2× 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
Nashville, TN ranks #102 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 |
| 102 | Nashville, TN | $29,390 | $25,795 | $26,775 |
*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 Tennessee
- Knoxville, TN — $28,100
- Memphis, TN — $24,550
- Chattanooga, TN — $24,240
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Nashville, TN?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area is $29,390 a year, or about $14.13 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $20,000 and $38,490.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Nashville, TN?
On the median $29,390 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $25,795 a year ($2,150 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Nashville, TN a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 17% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 3.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $26,775 would in a typical U.S. city. Nashville, TN ranks #102 of 148 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Nashville, TN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Nashville, TN is $1,530 a month ($1,685 for two bedrooms) — 71% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Nashville, TN
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $45,630
- Cooks, Restaurant — $38,170
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $37,910
- Food Preparation Worker — $34,640
- Dishwasher — $34,380
- Cooks, Fast Food — $34,210
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $29,520
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,150
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $28,800
- Bartender — $28,190