Waiters and Waitresses Pay Range in Missouri
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$28,600
- 25th Percentile — Junior$28,600
- 50th Percentile — Median$29,400
- 75th Percentile — Senior$40,150
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$61,440
Half of Waiters and Waitresses in Missouri earn more than $29,400. The top 10% make $61,440 or more, while entry-level workers start around $28,600.
Waiters and Waitresses in Missouri: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Missouri ranks 25th of 51 states for Waiters and Waitresses pay, at $38,620 per year (3.6% below the U.S. average of $40,060).
- 41,640 people work as Waiters and Waitresses in Missouri — 1.8% of all U.S. Waiters and Waitresses jobs.
- Location quotient 0.97: Waiters and Waitresses jobs are less concentrated in Missouri than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $28,600; the top 10% earn over $61,440.
- Hourly equivalent: $18.57 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Hawaii at $68,260.
- Among hospitality jobs in Missouri, Chefs and Head Cooks pays the most ($66,640).
Waiters and Waitresses Job Market in Missouri
Key factors affecting compensation
Missouri's key industries are Healthcare, Finance, Agriculture, and its job market is rated moderate. Waiters and Waitresses here earn $38,620 on average, placing the state 25th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.87 (U.S. = 1.00), a Missouri salary of $38,620 is roughly equivalent to $44,391 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Ohio ($42,190), Florida ($41,840), Nebraska ($39,590) 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 Missouri
Related career salary benchmarks
- Chefs and Head Cooks $66,640/yr Missouri +72.6% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation $43,250/yr Missouri +12.0% vs this role
- Cooks Restaurant $38,460/yr Missouri 0.4% vs this role
- Bartenders $38,170/yr Missouri 1.2% vs this role
- Cooks Institution and Cafeteria $35,190/yr Missouri 8.9% vs this role
- Dining Room Attendants and Bartender Helpers $33,870/yr Missouri 12.3% vs this role
- Fast Food and Counter Workers $32,130/yr Missouri 16.8% vs this role
- Cooks Fast Food $30,990/yr Missouri 19.8% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Waiters and Waitresses salary in Missouri?
The average Waiters and Waitresses salary in Missouri is $38,620 per year (median $29,400), which is 3.6% below the national average of $40,060.
How does Missouri rank for Waiters and Waitresses pay?
Missouri ranks 25th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is Hawaii ($68,260/yr).
How much do entry-level Waiters and Waitresses make in Missouri?
The lowest-paid 10% of Waiters and Waitresses in Missouri earn about $28,600 per year and the 25th percentile is $28,600.
How much do Waiters and Waitresses make per hour in Missouri?
About $18.57 per hour, based on the $38,620 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Waiters and Waitresses work in Missouri?
BLS counts 41,640 Waiters and Waitresses jobs in Missouri (OEWS May 2025).
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