How much does a waiter and waitress make in Knoxville?
$28,100a year
Median yearly pay for waiter and waitresss in the Knoxville, TN metro area. That is $13.51 an hour or $2,342 a month.
- Hourly
- $13.51
- Vs. national median
- -20%
- Rank among cities
- 268 of 392
- Jobs in the area
- 7,260
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $15,080Median: $28,100Highest 10%: $47,790
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $15,080 | $7.25 | |
| 25th | $15,450 | $7.43 | |
| Median | $28,100 | $13.51 | |
| 75th | $37,870 | $18.21 | |
| 90th | $47,790 | $22.98 |
Other cities in Tennessee
Median yearly pay for waiter and waitresss.
| Nashville, TN | $29,390 |
| Kingsport, TN | $28,210 |
| Morristown, TN | $27,370 |
| Memphis, TN | $24,550 |
| Chattanooga, TN | $24,240 |
| Cleveland, TN | $23,300 |
| Johnson City, TN | $22,070 |
| Clarksville, TN | $21,790 |
| Jackson, TN | $20,490 |
Related jobs in Knoxville
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $62,770 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $41,380 |
| Cook | $36,520 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $35,970 |
| Cook | $35,150 |
| Cook | $35,120 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,960 |
| Cook | $30,210 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $30,080 |
| Dishwasher | $29,530 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make an hour in Knoxville?
The median hourly pay in the Knoxville, TN metro area is $13.51 ($28,100 a year).
Do waiter and waitresss make more in Knoxville than the national average?
No: $28,100 against $35,230 nationally, 20% less.
How does Knoxville compare with the rest of Tennessee?
The median in Tennessee is $27,760, so Knoxville pays 1% more.
Where does Knoxville rank for waiter and waitress pay?
268 of 392 metro areas with data.
How much does a waiter and waitress make starting out in Knoxville?
The lowest-paid 10% make $15,080 or less a year; the top 10% make $47,790 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.