Waiter and Waitress Salary in Gulfport, MS
Waiters and Waitresses in the Gulfport-Biloxi, MS metro area earn a median $22,600 a year — 36% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $20,049 take-home, or $1,671 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Gulfport, MS. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$650
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,401
- Medicare (1.45%)$328
- Mississippi income tax$172
- Take-home pay$20,049
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 4.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Gulfport, MS
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,430 | $7.42 | $14,250 | $1,187 |
| 25th percentile | $16,570 | $7.97 | $15,255 | $1,271 |
| Median (50th) | $22,600 | $10.87 | $20,049 | $1,671 |
| 75th percentile | $30,150 | $14.50 | $25,932 | $2,161 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,920 | $18.71 | $32,627 | $2,719 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Mississippi resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $22,600 buys in Gulfport, MS
Prices in Gulfport, MS are 10.0% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 32% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $20,049 take-home pay has the buying power of $22,275 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Gulfport, MS has 1.7× 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
Gulfport, MS ranks #122 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 |
| 122 | Gulfport, MS | $22,600 | $20,049 | $22,275 |
*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 Mississippi
- Jackson, MS — $21,440
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Gulfport, MS?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Gulfport-Biloxi, MS metro area is $22,600 a year, or about $10.87 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $16,570 and $30,150.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Gulfport, MS?
On the median $22,600 salary, a single filer living in Mississippi takes home about $20,049 a year ($1,671 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $172 in Mississippi taxes in 2026.
Is Gulfport, MS a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 36% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 10.0% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $22,275 would in a typical U.S. city. Gulfport, MS ranks #122 of 148 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Gulfport, MS?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Gulfport, MS is $925 a month ($1,107 for two bedrooms) — 55% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Gulfport, MS
- Cooks, Restaurant — $30,590
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $22,820