Waiters and Waitresses salary in New Orleans-Metairie, LA
Waiters and Waitresses in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area earn a median of $16,640 a year ($8.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 10,050 workers.
Pay ranges from $15,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,410 for the top 10%. That is 53% lower than the national median of $35,230. Pay here is 10% higher than the Louisiana statewide median of $15,080. There are 23 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $24,030, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in New Orleans-Metairie, LA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,080 | $7.25 |
| 25th percentile | $15,080 | $7.25 |
| Median | $16,640 | $8.00 |
| 75th percentile | $27,040 | $13.00 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $42,410 | $20.39 |
| Average (mean) | $24,030 | $11.55 |
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 | $1,386.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $693.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $640 |
| Weekly | $320 |
| Hourly | $8.00 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Alexandria, LA | $15,080 | 750 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $15,080 | 6,650 |
| Hammond, LA | $15,080 | 1,050 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $15,080 | 1,210 |
| Lafayette, LA | $15,080 | 3,410 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $15,080 | 1,950 |
| Monroe, LA | $15,080 | 1,370 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $15,080 | 2,620 |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $15,080 | 2,520 |
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 Louisiana statewide figures.
Related jobs in New Orleans-Metairie, LA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $25,470 | $12.25 |
| Bartender | $21,230 | $10.21 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $29,460 | $14.16 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $26,200 | $12.60 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $30,520 | $14.68 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,130 | $18.33 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $23,060 | $11.09 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $26,240 | $12.62 |
| Dishwasher | $27,690 | $13.31 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $23,420 | $11.26 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $29,370 | $14.12 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $46,400 | $22.31 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $24,720 | $11.89 |
| Cooks, All Other | $30,840 | $14.83 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in New Orleans-Metairie, LA
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 New Orleans-Metairie, LA?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area is $16,640 a year, or $8.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $15,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,410 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in New Orleans-Metairie, LA?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area earn at least $42,410 a year. The top 25% earn $27,040 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in New Orleans-Metairie, LA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $15,080 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $15,080 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in New Orleans-Metairie, LA?
About 10,050 waiters and waitresses are employed in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area, not counting the self-employed.