How much does a waiter and waitress make in Lexington?
$34,910a year
Median yearly pay for waiter and waitresss in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area. That is $16.78 an hour or $2,909 a month.
- Hourly
- $16.78
- Vs. national median
- -1%
- Rank among cities
- 160 of 392
- Jobs in the area
- 5,020
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $16,940Median: $34,910Highest 10%: $63,020
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $16,940 | $8.14 | |
| 25th | $19,040 | $9.15 | |
| Median | $34,910 | $16.78 | |
| 75th | $46,760 | $22.48 | |
| 90th | $63,020 | $30.30 |
Other cities in Kentucky
Median yearly pay for waiter and waitresss.
| Cincinnati, OH | $36,530 |
| Huntington, WV | $30,690 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $30,270 |
| Louisville, KY | $30,180 |
| Owensboro, KY | $29,790 |
| Paducah, KY | $29,280 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $28,810 |
| Clarksville, TN | $21,790 |
Related jobs in Lexington
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $56,790 |
| Cook | $39,040 |
| Cook | $36,470 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $36,350 |
| Cook | $35,970 |
| Dishwasher | $31,110 |
| Bartender | $30,640 |
| Food Server | $30,430 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $27,990 |
| Host and Hostess | $27,920 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make an hour in Lexington?
The median hourly pay in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area is $16.78 ($34,910 a year).
Do waiter and waitresss make more in Lexington than the national average?
No: $34,910 against $35,230 nationally, 1% less.
How does Lexington compare with the rest of Kentucky?
The median in Kentucky is $29,660, so Lexington pays 18% more.
Where does Lexington rank for waiter and waitress pay?
160 of 392 metro areas with data.
How much does a waiter and waitress make starting out in Lexington?
The lowest-paid 10% make $16,940 or less a year; the top 10% make $63,020 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.