Waiters and Waitresses salary in Lexington-Fayette, KY
Waiters and Waitresses in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area earn a median of $34,910 a year ($16.79 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,020 workers.
Pay ranges from $16,940 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,020 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $35,230. Pay here is 18% higher than the Kentucky statewide median of $29,660. There are 18 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $37,250, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Lexington-Fayette, KY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $16,940 | $8.15 |
| 25th percentile | $19,040 | $9.16 |
| Median | $34,910 | $16.79 |
| 75th percentile | $46,760 | $22.48 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,020 | $30.30 |
| Average (mean) | $37,250 | $17.91 |
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 | $2,909.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,454.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,342.69 |
| Weekly | $671.35 |
| Hourly | $16.79 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $34,910 salary, see how much house you can afford in Kentucky 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $36,530 | 17,790 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $30,690 | 1,720 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $30,270 | 760 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $30,180 | 10,220 |
| Owensboro, KY | $29,790 | 780 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $29,280 | 1,010 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $28,810 | 1,250 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $21,790 | 1,570 |
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 Kentucky statewide figures.
Related jobs in Lexington-Fayette, KY
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,990 | $13.46 |
| Bartender | $30,640 | $14.73 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $30,430 | $14.63 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $26,840 | $12.91 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $36,350 | $17.48 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $27,340 | $13.14 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,970 | $17.30 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,470 | $17.53 |
| Dishwasher | $31,110 | $14.96 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,920 | $13.42 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $24,090 | $11.58 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $56,790 | $27.30 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $39,040 | $18.77 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Lexington-Fayette, KY
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 Lexington-Fayette, KY?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area is $34,910 a year, or $16.79 an hour. Pay ranges from $16,940 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,020 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area earn at least $63,020 a year. The top 25% earn $46,760 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $16,940 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $19,040 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
About 5,020 waiters and waitresses are employed in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area, not counting the self-employed.