Waiters and Waitresses Pay Range in Mississippi
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$15,330
- 25th Percentile — Junior$16,210
- 50th Percentile — Median$21,370
- 75th Percentile — Senior$29,300
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$39,420
Half of Waiters and Waitresses in Mississippi earn more than $21,370. The top 10% make $39,420 or more, while entry-level workers start around $15,330.
Waiters and Waitresses in Mississippi: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Mississippi ranks 50th of 51 states for Waiters and Waitresses pay, at $24,680 per year (38.4% below the U.S. average of $40,060).
- 15,190 people work as Waiters and Waitresses in Mississippi — 0.7% of all U.S. Waiters and Waitresses jobs.
- Location quotient 0.89: Waiters and Waitresses jobs are less concentrated in Mississippi than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $15,330; the top 10% earn over $39,420.
- Hourly equivalent: $11.87 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Hawaii at $68,260.
- Among hospitality jobs in Mississippi, Chefs and Head Cooks pays the most ($56,910).
Waiters and Waitresses Job Market in Mississippi
Key factors affecting compensation
Mississippi's key industries are Agriculture, Manufacturing, Healthcare, and its job market is rated low. Waiters and Waitresses here earn $24,680 on average, placing the state 50th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.8 (U.S. = 1.00), a Mississippi salary of $24,680 is roughly equivalent to $30,850 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Iowa ($26,940), Georgia ($26,610), South Carolina ($25,900) are the closest alternatives for Waiters and Waitresses weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Hospitality Jobs in Mississippi
Related career salary benchmarks
- Chefs and Head Cooks $56,910/yr Mississippi +130.6% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation $39,180/yr Mississippi +58.8% vs this role
- Bartenders $36,510/yr Mississippi +47.9% vs this role
- Cooks Restaurant $29,770/yr Mississippi +20.6% vs this role
- Cooks Institution and Cafeteria $27,850/yr Mississippi +12.8% vs this role
- Dining Room Attendants and Bartender Helpers $24,480/yr Mississippi 0.8% vs this role
- Fast Food and Counter Workers $23,880/yr Mississippi 3.2% vs this role
- Cooks Fast Food $23,560/yr Mississippi 4.5% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Waiters and Waitresses salary in Mississippi?
The average Waiters and Waitresses salary in Mississippi is $24,680 per year (median $21,370), which is 38.4% below the national average of $40,060.
How does Mississippi rank for Waiters and Waitresses pay?
Mississippi ranks 50th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is Hawaii ($68,260/yr).
How much do entry-level Waiters and Waitresses make in Mississippi?
The lowest-paid 10% of Waiters and Waitresses in Mississippi earn about $15,330 per year and the 25th percentile is $16,210.
How much do Waiters and Waitresses make per hour in Mississippi?
About $11.87 per hour, based on the $24,680 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Waiters and Waitresses work in Mississippi?
BLS counts 15,190 Waiters and Waitresses jobs in Mississippi (OEWS May 2025).
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