Waiters and Waitresses pay range in Knoxville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $15,080 a year or less, while the top 10% make $47,790 or more. The middle half of waiters and waitresses in Knoxville earn between $15,450 and $37,870.
- $15K10th
- $15K25th
- $28KMedian
- $38K75th
- $48K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $28,970 | $2,414 | $13.93 |
| Median | $28,100 | $2,342 | $13.51 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $15,450 | $1,288 | $7.43 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,870 | $3,156 | $18.21 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Waiters and Waitresses pay in Knoxville vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Waiters and waitresses in Knoxville earn about the same as the Tennessee average ($29,070) and 28% less than the U.S. average ($40,060). At the median the gap is -20% against the U.S. median of $35,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $28,970 | $28,100 | $15,080 | $47,790 | 7,260 |
| Tennessee | $29,070 | $27,760 | $15,080 | $47,660 | 52,120 |
| 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 Knoxville
On the average salary of $28,970, a single filer in Knoxville takes home about $25,457 a year, or $2,121 a month and $979 every two weeks. Taxes take 12% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Knoxville a good place for waiters and waitresses? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Knoxville area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.6), so the average $28,970 buys what about $31,296 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Knoxville ($47,080). A typical home costs $367,158, or 12.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other Tennessee cities
Knoxville ranks 3rd of 10 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($31,580).
- Nashville$31,580
- Kingsport$31,460
- Knoxville$28,970
- Morristown$28,850
- Memphis$28,120
- Clarksville$27,420
- Chattanooga$27,210
- Johnson City$26,260
- Cleveland$25,860
- Jackson$25,680
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 Knoxville: questions
How much do waiters and waitresses make an hour in Knoxville?
$13.93 an hour on average, and $13.51 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level waiters and waitresses salary in Knoxville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $15,080 a year and the 25th percentile is $15,450, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the waiters and waitresses take-home pay in Knoxville?
About $25,457 a year ($2,121 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $28,970. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do waiters and waitresses earn more in Knoxville than elsewhere?
The average here is 28% 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 Knoxville, TN (28940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.1%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.17, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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