How much does a waiter and waitress make in New Orleans?
$16,640a year
Median yearly pay for waiter and waitresss in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area. That is $8.00 an hour or $1,387 a month.
- Hourly
- $8.00
- Vs. national median
- -53%
- Rank among cities
- 383 of 392
- Jobs in the area
- 10,050
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $15,080Median: $16,640Highest 10%: $42,410
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $15,080 | $7.25 | |
| 25th | $15,080 | $7.25 | |
| Median | $16,640 | $8.00 | |
| 75th | $27,040 | $13.00 | |
| 90th | $42,410 | $20.39 |
Other cities in Louisiana
Median yearly pay for waiter and waitresss.
| Alexandria, LA | $15,080 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $15,080 |
| Hammond, LA | $15,080 |
| Houma, LA | $15,080 |
| Lafayette, LA | $15,080 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $15,080 |
| Monroe, LA | $15,080 |
| Shreveport, LA | $15,080 |
| Slidell, LA | $15,080 |
Related jobs in New Orleans
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $46,400 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $38,130 |
| Cook | $30,840 |
| Cook | $30,520 |
| Food Server | $29,460 |
| Cook | $29,370 |
| Dishwasher | $27,690 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $26,240 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $26,200 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $25,470 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make an hour in New Orleans?
The median hourly pay in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area is $8.00 ($16,640 a year).
Do waiter and waitresss make more in New Orleans than the national average?
No: $16,640 against $35,230 nationally, 53% less.
How does New Orleans compare with the rest of Louisiana?
The median in Louisiana is $15,080, so New Orleans pays 10% more.
Where does New Orleans rank for waiter and waitress pay?
383 of 392 metro areas with data.
How much does a waiter and waitress make starting out in New Orleans?
The lowest-paid 10% make $15,080 or less a year; the top 10% make $42,410 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.