Waiter and Waitress Salary in St. Louis, MO
Waiters and Waitresses in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median $31,200 a year — 11% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $26,720 take-home, or $2,227 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in St. Louis, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,564
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,934
- Medicare (1.45%)$452
- Missouri income tax$529
- Take-home pay$26,720
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
Living in St. Louis? City residents also pay St. Louis’s Earnings Tax — about $312 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $26,408 ($2,201 a month). Choose “St. Louis” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The St. Louis, MO-IL metro spans Missouri, Illinois. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in St. Louis, 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) | $31,200 | $15.00 | $26,720 | $2,227 |
| 75th percentile | $38,790 | $18.65 | $32,462 | $2,705 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,520 | $30.06 | $50,414 | $4,201 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $31,200 buys in St. Louis, MO
Prices in St. Louis, MO are 4.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $26,720 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,100 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 St. Louis, MO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.03).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
St. Louis, MO ranks #84 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 |
| 84 | St. Louis, MO | $31,200 | $26,720 | $28,100 |
*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
- Springfield, MO — $29,350
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in St. Louis, MO?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $31,200 a year, or about $15.00 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,600 and $38,790.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in St. Louis, MO?
On the median $31,200 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $26,720 a year ($2,227 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $529 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is St. Louis, MO a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 11% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 4.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,100 would in a typical U.S. city. St. Louis, MO ranks #84 of 148 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in St. Louis, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in St. Louis, MO is $989 a month ($1,211 for two bedrooms) — 44% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in St. Louis, MO
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,520
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,690
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $36,200
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $34,340
- Food Preparation Worker — $32,400
- Dishwasher — $32,180
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $31,930
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $31,260
- Bartender — $31,200
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $31,200
- Cooks, Fast Food — $30,860