Waiters and Waitresses salary in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
Waiters and Waitresses in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area earn a median of $28,210 a year ($13.56 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,800 workers.
Pay ranges from $15,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,990 for the top 10%. That is 20% lower than the national median of $35,230. Pay here is 2% higher than the Tennessee statewide median of $27,760. There are 15 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $31,460, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,080 | $7.25 |
| 25th percentile | $20,020 | $9.63 |
| Median | $28,210 | $13.56 |
| 75th percentile | $38,760 | $18.64 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,990 | $23.55 |
| Average (mean) | $31,460 | $15.13 |
Half of waiters and waitresses earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,350.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,175.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,085 |
| Weekly | $542.50 |
| Hourly | $13.56 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $28,210 salary, see how much house you can afford in Tennessee at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $46,040 | 46,160 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $44,760 | 1,150 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $44,030 | 2,140 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $39,020 | 13,100 |
| Richmond, VA | $38,470 | 9,120 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $37,910 | 690 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $37,680 | 990 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $37,670 | 1,080 |
| Roanoke, VA | $37,380 | 2,220 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $36,780 | 1,410 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $29,390 | 19,490 |
| Knoxville, TN | $28,100 | 7,260 |
| Morristown, TN | $27,370 | 630 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $24,550 | 8,060 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $24,240 | 4,790 |
| Cleveland, TN | $23,300 | 720 |
| Johnson City, TN | $22,070 | 1,460 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $21,790 | 1,570 |
| Jackson, TN | $20,490 | 930 |
Highest-paying states for waiters and waitresses
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $62,390 |
| Vermont | $59,140 |
| Washington | $56,130 |
| Oregon | $48,410 |
| District of Columbia | $47,850 |
| New York | $47,020 |
| New Jersey | $44,960 |
| Colorado | $44,860 |
| Virginia | $44,760 |
| Arizona | $43,950 |
See Waiters and Waitresses pay in every state or the Tennessee statewide figures.
Related jobs in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $26,890 | $12.93 |
| Bartender | $31,240 | $15.02 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $28,430 | $13.67 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $37,300 | $17.93 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $34,600 | $16.63 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $28,020 | $13.47 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $26,930 | $12.95 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,210 | $16.93 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,250 | $13.10 |
| Dishwasher | $28,500 | $13.70 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $26,620 | $12.80 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $30,510 | $14.67 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $55,360 | $26.62 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $35,280 | $16.96 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-3031. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiters and waitresses make in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area is $28,210 a year, or $13.56 an hour. Pay ranges from $15,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,990 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area earn at least $48,990 a year. The top 25% earn $38,760 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $15,080 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $20,020 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?
About 1,800 waiters and waitresses are employed in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area, not counting the self-employed.