Waiter and Waitress Salary in Paducah, KY
Waiters and Waitresses in the Paducah, KY-IL metro area earn a median $29,280 a year — 17% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $24,799 take-home, or $2,067 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Paducah, KY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,334
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,815
- Medicare (1.45%)$425
- Kentucky income tax$907
- Take-home pay$24,799
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.50% state
The Paducah, KY-IL metro spans Kentucky, Illinois. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Paducah, KY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,970 | $7.68 | $14,307 | $1,192 |
| 25th percentile | $16,510 | $7.94 | $14,746 | $1,229 |
| Median (50th) | $29,280 | $14.08 | $24,799 | $2,067 |
| 75th percentile | $39,140 | $18.82 | $32,377 | $2,698 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $57,810 | $27.79 | $46,725 | $3,894 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Kentucky resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $29,280 buys in Paducah, KY
Prices in Paducah, KY are 13.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 51% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $24,799 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,808 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Paducah, KY has 1.4× 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
Paducah, KY ranks #174 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 |
| 174 | Paducah, KY | $29,280 | $24,799 | $28,808 |
*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 Kentucky
- Lexington, KY — $34,910
- Owensboro, KY — $29,790
- Elizabethtown, KY — $30,270
- Louisville, KY — $30,180
- Bowling Green, KY — $28,810
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Paducah, KY?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Paducah, KY-IL metro area is $29,280 a year, or about $14.08 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $16,510 and $39,140.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Paducah, KY?
On the median $29,280 salary, a single filer living in Kentucky takes home about $24,799 a year ($2,067 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $907 in Kentucky taxes in 2026.
Is Paducah, KY a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 17% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 13.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,808 would in a typical U.S. city. Paducah, KY ranks #174 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Paducah, KY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Paducah, KY is $843 a month ($1,049 for two bedrooms) — 41% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Paducah, KY
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $35,310
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $35,210
- Cooks, Restaurant — $31,200
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,640
- Food Preparation Worker — $27,210