Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Waiter or Waitress Salary in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA

In the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metropolitan area, waiters or waitresses earned a median annual wage of $26,100 ($12.55/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $14,200/year and the 90th was $44,800/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Tennessee tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $23,103 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 86.4 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$26,100$12.55 per hour · $2,175 monthly
10th Percentile$14,200$6.83/hr base
25th Percentile$15,800$7.60/hr base
75th Percentile$35,200$16.92/hr base
90th Percentile$44,800$21.54/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

$26,100
$15,000$55,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$26,100
Net 89%
Fed 4%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$23,103After all taxes
Monthly deposit$1,925Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$889Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate11.5%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$1,000 / yr
Tennessee state income taxNo state wage tax$0
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$1,997 / yr

Waiters and Waitresses Wage Percentiles in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA

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 Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (TN)
10th Percentile$6.83/hr$1,183$14,200$13,114
25th Percentile$7.60/hr$1,317$15,800$14,591
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$12.55/hr$2,175$26,100$23,103
75th Percentile$16.92/hr$2,933$35,200$30,463
90th Percentile$21.54/hr$3,733$44,800$38,177

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$26,100 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$57,792Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index86.413.6% below national average
Individual vs Household Ratio45.2%of area median income

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Waiters and Waitresses Pay in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA

What is the median salary for waiters or waitresses in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?

The official BLS median annual wage for waiters or waitresses in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA is $26,100, which equates to approximately $2,175 per month or $12.55 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for waiters or waitresses in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?

The median hourly wage for waiters or waitresses in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA is $12.55 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $6.83/hour and one in ten earned more than $21.54/hour.

What is the pay range for waiters or waitresses in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?

BLS wage estimates for waiters or waitresses in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA span from $14,200 at the 10th percentile to $15,800 at the 25th, $35,200 at the 75th, and $44,800 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do waiters or waitresses take home after taxes in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?

On a median gross salary of $26,100, an estimated $23,103 lands in net take-home pay per year ($889 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Tennessee in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $2,997 (an effective rate of 11.5%).

How much do waiters or waitresses make per month in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?

On the median annual salary of $26,100, gross monthly income is $2,175. After federal, FICA, and Tennessee state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $1,925 per month (or $889 every two weeks).

Is $26,100 a good salary in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?

At $26,100, the median salary for waiters or waitresses is 45.2% of the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA median household income ($57,792). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 86.4, making regional consumer goods and services 13.6% cheaper than the U.S. average.