Waiter and Waitress Salary in Jackson, MS
Waiters and Waitresses in the Jackson, MS metro area earn a median $21,440 a year — 39% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $19,140 take-home, or $1,595 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Jackson, MS. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$534
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,329
- Medicare (1.45%)$311
- Mississippi income tax$126
- Take-home pay$19,140
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 Jackson, MS
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,430 | $7.42 | $14,250 | $1,187 |
| 25th percentile | $16,110 | $7.75 | $14,877 | $1,240 |
| Median (50th) | $21,440 | $10.31 | $19,140 | $1,595 |
| 75th percentile | $30,540 | $14.68 | $26,229 | $2,186 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,380 | $21.34 | $36,796 | $3,066 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Mississippi resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $21,440 buys in Jackson, MS
Prices in Jackson, MS are 11.0% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 35% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $19,140 take-home pay has the buying power of $21,494 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 less concentrated in Jackson, MS than nationally (location quotient 0.70), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Jackson, MS ranks #129 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 |
| 129 | Jackson, MS | $21,440 | $19,140 | $21,494 |
*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
- Gulfport, MS — $22,600
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Jackson, MS?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Jackson, MS metro area is $21,440 a year, or about $10.31 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $16,110 and $30,540.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Jackson, MS?
On the median $21,440 salary, a single filer living in Mississippi takes home about $19,140 a year ($1,595 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $126 in Mississippi taxes in 2026.
Is Jackson, MS a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 39% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 11.0% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $21,494 would in a typical U.S. city. Jackson, MS ranks #129 of 148 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Jackson, MS?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Jackson, MS is $1,045 a month ($1,229 for two bedrooms) — 66% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Jackson, MS
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $22,630
- Cooks, Fast Food — $22,310