Salaries › Waiter / Waitress › Tennessee
Waiter / Waitress Salary in Tennessee (2026)
$13.35 per hour · take-home ≈ $24,470/year ($2,039/month) for a single filer
Waiter / Waitress pay range in Tennessee
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $15,080 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $16,790 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $27,760 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $37,380 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $47,660 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 52,120 Waiter / Waitress jobs in Tennessee (occupation code 35-3031, “Waiters and Waitresses”).
Gross vs. take-home in Tennessee
A median Waiter / Waitress salary of $27,760 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare (no state income tax in Tennessee), a single filer keeps about $24,470 — an effective tax rate of 11.9%.
| Gross (median) | $27,760 |
| Federal income tax | −$1,166 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,124 |
| Tennessee state income tax | −$0 |
| Take-home (annual) | $24,470 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,039 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Tennessee paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Waiter / Waitress make in Tennessee?
- The median Waiter / Waitress salary in Tennessee is $27,760 per year ($13.35 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $16,790 and $37,380.
- What is the take-home pay for a Waiter / Waitress in Tennessee?
- On the median salary of $27,760, a single filer in Tennessee takes home about $24,470 per year ($2,039 per month) after federal tax, FICA — an effective tax rate of 11.9%.
- How many Waiter / Waitress jobs are there in Tennessee?
- BLS counts 52,120 Waiter / Waitress jobs in Tennessee in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Waiter / Waitresss
Other salaries in Tennessee
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified Tennessee state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for Tennessee.