Waiter and Waitress Salary in Springfield, MO
Waiters and Waitresses in the Springfield, MO metro area earn a median $29,350 a year — 17% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,321 take-home, or $2,110 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Springfield, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,342
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,820
- Medicare (1.45%)$426
- Missouri income tax$442
- Take-home pay$25,321
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Springfield, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,600 | $13.75 | $24,753 | $2,063 |
| 25th percentile | $28,600 | $13.75 | $24,753 | $2,063 |
| Median (50th) | $29,350 | $14.11 | $25,321 | $2,110 |
| 75th percentile | $36,610 | $17.60 | $30,813 | $2,568 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,660 | $28.68 | $48,250 | $4,021 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $29,350 buys in Springfield, MO
Prices in Springfield, MO are 11.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 34% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $25,321 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,583 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 about as common in Springfield, MO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.94).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Springfield, MO ranks #82 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 |
| 82 | Springfield, MO | $29,350 | $25,321 | $28,583 |
*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 Missouri
- Kansas City, MO — $36,080
- St. Louis, MO — $31,200
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Springfield, MO?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Springfield, MO metro area is $29,350 a year, or about $14.11 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,600 and $36,610.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Springfield, MO?
On the median $29,350 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $25,321 a year ($2,110 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $442 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is Springfield, MO a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 17% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 11.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,583 would in a typical U.S. city. Springfield, MO ranks #82 of 148 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Springfield, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Springfield, MO is $868 a month ($1,074 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 Springfield, MO
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,950
- Cooks, Fast Food — $29,190