Waiters and Waitresses pay range in New Orleans
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $15,080 a year or less, while the top 10% make $42,410 or more. The middle half of waiters and waitresses in New Orleans earn between $15,080 and $27,040.
- $15K10th
- $15K25th
- $17KMedian
- $27K75th
- $42K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $24,030 | $2,002 | $11.55 |
| Median | $16,640 | $1,387 | $8.00 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $15,080 | $1,257 | $7.25 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $27,040 | $2,253 | $13.00 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Waiters and Waitresses pay in New Orleans vs. Louisiana and the U.S.
Waiters and waitresses in New Orleans earn 8% more than the Louisiana average ($22,350) and 40% less than the U.S. average ($40,060). At the median the gap is -53% against the U.S. median of $35,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans | $24,030 | $16,640 | $15,080 | $42,410 | 10,050 |
| Louisiana | $22,350 | $15,080 | $15,080 | $38,060 | 33,870 |
| United States | $40,060 | $35,230 | $18,100 | $64,720 | 2,270,910 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Waiters and Waitresses salary after taxes in New Orleans
On the average salary of $24,030, a single filer in New Orleans takes home about $21,064 a year, or $1,755 a month and $810 every two weeks. Taxes take 12% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is New Orleans a good place for waiters and waitresses? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the New Orleans area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.6), so the average $24,030 buys what about $25,951 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.4 times the median wage of all jobs in New Orleans ($47,290). A typical home costs $261,414, or 10.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other Louisiana cities
New Orleans ranks 1st of 10 Louisiana metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- New Orleans$24,030
- Shreveport$22,850
- Slidell$22,550
- Monroe$22,270
- Alexandria$22,250
- Houma$22,110
- Hammond$21,980
- Lafayette$21,440
- Baton Rouge$21,080
- Lake Charles$20,490
Highest-paying cities for waiters and waitresses
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($87,210).
- Kahului, HI$87,210
- Seattle, WA$62,940
- Honolulu, HI$61,880
- Bremerton, WA$61,770
- Burlington, VT$61,070
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Waiters and Waitresses salary in New Orleans: questions
How much do waiters and waitresses make an hour in New Orleans?
$11.55 an hour on average, and $8.00 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level waiters and waitresses salary in New Orleans?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $15,080 a year and the 25th percentile is $15,080, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the waiters and waitresses take-home pay in New Orleans?
About $21,064 a year ($1,755 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $24,030.
Do waiters and waitresses earn more in New Orleans than elsewhere?
The average here is 40% less than the U.S. average for this job ($40,060).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-3031; area New Orleans-Metairie, LA (35380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.54, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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