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Waiters and Waitresses salary in Baton Rouge, LA

Waiters and Waitresses in the Baton Rouge, LA metropolitan area earn a median of $15,080 a year, an average of $21,080. About 6,650 people work in this occupation there. Figures are from the May 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS).

Waiters and Waitresses pay at a glance

Annual median wage
$15,080
Half earn more, half earn less
Annual mean wage
$21,080
Pulled up by top earners
10th percentile
$15,080
Bottom of the range
90th percentile
$36,230
Top of the range
People employed
6,650
In Baton Rouge metro area
Rent share of median wage
83.1%
Median rent ÷ median wage

What this wage buys in Baton Rouge

Rent from the ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, compared with the wage above

Median gross rent
$1,044
per month, in Baton Rouge, LA
Income needed for median rent
$41,800
Keeps rent at 30% of gross pay
Median waiters and waitresses wage
$15,080
63.9% below income needed for median rent
Rent as share of this wage
83.1%
12 months rent ÷ median wage
City median household income
$49,944
All households, not one occupation

Occupations are not paid the same everywhere, and this page does not explain why. It reports what the survey measured for the Baton Rouge area. Read the Baton Rouge, LA cost of living page for rent, income and the price level, or the methodology for how the numbers are compiled.

Waiters and Waitresses pay in other cities

Median annual wage, same occupation, same survey

San Bernardino, CA
+130.8%
Median $34,800
Mean $45,660
Employed 20,810
Tacoma, WA
+279.8%
Median $57,280
Mean $62,940
Employed 26,530
Port St. Lucie, FL
+140.4%
Median $36,250
Mean $41,310
Employed 4,050
Richmond, VA
+155.1%
Median $38,470
Mean $45,010
Employed 9,120
Fremont, CA
+157.7%
Median $38,860
Mean $46,460
Employed 29,080
Huntsville, AL
+85.6%
Median $27,990
Mean $28,330
Employed 3,290
Modesto, CA
+131.5%
Median $34,910
Mean $41,200
Employed 2,140
Spokane, WA
+222.0%
Median $48,560
Mean $55,270
Employed 3,420

See waiters and waitresses pay in every covered city.

Take-home pay calculator

Estimate your net pay after federal, state, and FICA taxes. Adjust filing status and allowances for your situation.

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Gross annual income $15,080 / year
$15,080
Federal income tax 2024 brackets, Single filing
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State income tax Louisiana (LA)
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FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.65% up to wage base
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Pre-tax deductions 401(k), HSA, etc.
$0
Take-home pay (annual) After all taxes
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Take-home per paycheck Monthly
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Effective tax rate Total tax ÷ gross income
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Estimates use 2024 federal tax brackets, FICA rates (6.2% SS up to $168,600, 1.45% Medicare + 0.9% >$200k), and state rates from Tax Foundation. Does not include local taxes, AMT, or tax credits. Consult a tax professional for actual liability.

Definitions used on this page

Annual median wage
The wage that half of the people in this occupation earn more than and half earn less than, for one year of work.
Annual mean wage
The average of all reported wages. It is higher than the median when a few very high earners pull it up.
Percentiles
The 10th percentile is the wage below which 10% of workers fall; the 90th is the wage above which only 10% rise. The gap between them shows how wide the pay range is.
Employment
The estimated number of jobs in this occupation in the metropolitan area, not the number of residents who hold it.

Sources and limits

Wages describe the metropolitan area, while rent and income describe the city boundaries. The two areas do not cover exactly the same ground. Wages are also averaged across a year and across every industry, so a specific employer can differ widely from the median shown here.