How much does a waiter and waitress make in Nashville?
Median yearly pay for waiter and waitresss in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area. That is $14.13 an hour or $2,449 a month.
- Hourly
- $14.13
- Vs. national median
- -17%
- Rank among cities
- 237 of 392
- Jobs in the area
- 19,490
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $15,080 | $7.25 | |
| 25th | $20,000 | $9.62 | |
| Median | $29,390 | $14.13 | |
| 75th | $38,490 | $18.50 | |
| 90th | $50,050 | $24.06 |
Other cities in Tennessee
Median yearly pay for waiter and waitresss.
| Kingsport, TN | $28,210 |
| Knoxville, TN | $28,100 |
| 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 Nashville
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $70,420 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $45,630 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $40,370 |
| Cook | $38,170 |
| Cook | $37,910 |
| Cook | $37,830 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,640 |
| Dishwasher | $34,380 |
| Cook | $34,210 |
| Food Server | $33,830 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make an hour in Nashville?
The median hourly pay in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area is $14.13 ($29,390 a year).
Do waiter and waitresss make more in Nashville than the national average?
No: $29,390 against $35,230 nationally, 17% less.
How does Nashville compare with the rest of Tennessee?
The median in Tennessee is $27,760, so Nashville pays 6% more.
Where does Nashville rank for waiter and waitress pay?
237 of 392 metro areas with data.
How much does a waiter and waitress make starting out in Nashville?
The lowest-paid 10% make $15,080 or less a year; the top 10% make $50,050 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.