Waiters and Waitresses pay in Tennessee
$29,070avg. a year
$13.98 an hour · 52,120 employed
Waiters and Waitresses in Tennessee earn an average of $29,070 a year. That is $10,990 (27%) less than the U.S. average of $40,060. The best-paying metro area is Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN at $31,580.
$27,760Median pay
$13.98Average hourly
+44%Avg. pay since 2020
#43Of 50 states + D.C.
Top-paying Tennessee metro areas
Average pay for waiters and waitresses by metro area. Swipe to see all 10.
119,490 jobs
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
$31,580
$15.18 an hour
21,800 jobs
Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
$31,460
$15.13 an hour
37,260 jobs
Knoxville, TN
$28,970
$13.93 an hour
4630 jobs
Morristown, TN
$28,850
$13.87 an hour
58,060 jobs
Memphis, TN-MS-AR
$28,120
$13.52 an hour
61,570 jobs
Clarksville, TN-KY
$27,420
$13.18 an hour
74,790 jobs
Chattanooga, TN-GA
$27,210
$13.08 an hour
81,460 jobs
Johnson City, TN
$26,260
$12.62 an hour
9720 jobs
Cleveland, TN
$25,860
$12.43 an hour
10930 jobs
Jackson, TN
$25,680
$12.34 an hour
Why people trust JobPayFacts
Official government dataEvery number comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey of employers, not self-reported salaries.
Every state and city830 jobs across all 50 states, D.C. and 199 large metro areas.
Updated every yearNew figures each spring when BLS releases them. This site uses May 2025 data.
Waiters and Waitresses pay in Tennessee, charted
Pay over time
Tennessee, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where Tennessee waiters and waitresses work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · Tennessee highlighted · tap a state
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Under $31k$31k–$38k$38k–$45k$45k+Tennessee
Tennessee vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $40,060 | $19.26 |
| Tennessee | $29,070 | $13.98 |
| Virginia | $46,680 | $22.44 |
| Missouri | $38,620 | $18.57 |
| North Carolina | $37,850 | $18.20 |
| Kentucky | $35,410 | $17.02 |
| Arkansas | $29,050 | $13.97 |
Related jobs in Tennessee
Average pay, Tennessee, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do waiters and waitresses make in Tennessee?
The average is $29,070 a year, and the median is $27,760. That is $10,990 (27%) less than the U.S. average of $40,060.
What is the hourly wage in Tennessee?
$13.98 an hour on average; the median is $13.35.
Where in Tennessee do they earn the most?
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN ($31,580), followed by Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA ($31,460). The lowest average among 10 metro areas with data is Jackson, TN ($25,680).
How does Tennessee rank?
Tennessee ranks #43 of 51 states (including D.C.) with published data for this job, by average pay.
Sources and notes. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (trend: May 2020–May 2025), occupation code 35-3031. State rank compares average pay across states with published data. Metro figures cover metropolitan statistical areas; a metro area can cross state lines. See also the national waiters and waitresses page. Wages are gross pay before taxes and don't include overtime premiums, tips, bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers aren't included. Year-to-year changes can partly reflect survey method changes, so treat the trend as a guide. How we use the data. JobPayFacts isn't affiliated with BLS.