Joplin, MO-KS · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Waiter or Waitress Salary in Joplin, MO-KS

In the Joplin, MO-KS metropolitan area, waiters or waitresses earned a median annual wage of $34,400 ($16.54/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $16,500/year and the 90th was $59,900/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Kansas tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $28,695 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 85.7 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$34,400$16.54 per hour · $2,867 monthly
10th Percentile$16,500$7.93/hr base
25th Percentile$25,500$12.26/hr base
75th Percentile$45,400$21.83/hr base
90th Percentile$59,900$28.80/hr base

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-Home Pay Explorer

$34,400
$15,000$70,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$34,400
Net 83%
Fed 6%
KS 3%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$28,695After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,391Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,104Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate16.6%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$1,948 / yr
Kansas state income tax$1,125 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,632 / yr

Waiters and Waitresses Wage Percentiles in Joplin, MO-KS

Official survey estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Full-time calculations assume standard 2,080 annual working hours.

Wage Distribution for Waiters and Waitresses in the Joplin, MO-KS Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (KS)
10th Percentile$7.93/hr$1,375$16,500$15,004
25th Percentile$12.26/hr$2,125$25,500$21,947
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$16.54/hr$2,867$34,400$28,695
75th Percentile$21.83/hr$3,783$45,400$36,925
90th Percentile$28.80/hr$4,992$59,900$47,767

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Joplin, MO-KS

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$34,400 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$61,901Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index85.714.3% below national average
Individual vs Household Ratio55.6%of area median income

Compare waiters or waitresses salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in Kansas:

Frequently Asked Questions About Waiters and Waitresses Pay in Joplin, MO-KS

What is the median salary for waiters or waitresses in Joplin, MO-KS?

The official BLS median annual wage for waiters or waitresses in Joplin, MO-KS is $34,400, which equates to approximately $2,867 per month or $16.54 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for waiters or waitresses in Joplin, MO-KS?

The median hourly wage for waiters or waitresses in Joplin, MO-KS is $16.54 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $7.93/hour and one in ten earned more than $28.80/hour.

What is the pay range for waiters or waitresses in Joplin, MO-KS?

BLS wage estimates for waiters or waitresses in Joplin, MO-KS span from $16,500 at the 10th percentile to $25,500 at the 25th, $45,400 at the 75th, and $59,900 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do waiters or waitresses take home after taxes in Joplin, MO-KS?

On a median gross salary of $34,400, an estimated $28,695 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,104 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Kansas in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $5,705 (an effective rate of 16.6%).

How much do waiters or waitresses make per month in Joplin, MO-KS?

On the median annual salary of $34,400, gross monthly income is $2,867. After federal, FICA, and Kansas state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,391 per month (or $1,104 every two weeks).

Is $34,400 a good salary in Joplin, MO-KS?

At $34,400, the median salary for waiters or waitresses is 55.6% of the Joplin, MO-KS median household income ($61,901). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 85.7, making regional consumer goods and services 14.3% cheaper than the U.S. average.