Waiter and Waitress Salary in New Orleans, LA
Waiters and Waitresses in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area earn a median $16,640 a year — 53% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $15,200 take-home, or $1,267 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in New Orleans, LA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$54
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,032
- Medicare (1.45%)$241
- Louisiana income tax$113
- Take-home pay$15,200
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 3.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in New Orleans, 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) | $16,640 | $8.00 | $15,200 | $1,267 |
| 75th percentile | $27,040 | $13.00 | $23,452 | $1,954 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $42,410 | $20.39 | $35,370 | $2,948 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Louisiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $16,640 buys in New Orleans, LA
Prices in New Orleans, LA are 7.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 14% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $15,200 take-home pay has the buying power of $16,415 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
New Orleans, LA has 1.5× 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
New Orleans, LA ranks #144 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 |
| 144 | New Orleans, LA | $16,640 | $15,200 | $16,415 |
*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 Louisiana
- Shreveport, LA — $15,080
- Lafayette, LA — $15,080
- Baton Rouge, LA — $15,080
- Slidell, LA — $15,080
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in New Orleans, LA?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area is $16,640 a year, or about $8.00 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $15,080 and $27,040.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in New Orleans, LA?
On the median $16,640 salary, a single filer living in Louisiana takes home about $15,200 a year ($1,267 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $113 in Louisiana taxes in 2026.
Is New Orleans, LA a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 53% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 7.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $16,415 would in a typical U.S. city. New Orleans, LA ranks #144 of 148 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in New Orleans, LA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in New Orleans, LA is $1,105 a month ($1,323 for two bedrooms) — 87% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in New Orleans, LA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,130
- Cooks, Restaurant — $30,520
- Food Preparation Worker — $26,200
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $25,470
- Bartender — $21,230