SOC 35-3031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Waiters and Waitresses — Cape Girardeau
Cape Girardeau, MO-IL · 7 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Cape Girardeau, MO is $28,710 a year, trailing the national median of $35,230 by 18.5%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Cape Girardeau, MO is $28,710 a year, trailing the national median of $35,230 by 18.5%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $28,600 and $37,290. The lowest tenth earn under $28,600, while the highest tenth earn more than $60,520.
The area has 820 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.26 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Within the state, Kansas City records the highest median at $36,080. Of the 204 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 200th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $28,600 | −18.8% |
| 25th | $28,600 | −18.8% |
| Median (50th) | $28,710 | −18.5% |
| 75th | $37,290 | +5.8% |
| 90th | $60,520 | +71.8% |
| Mean | $36,880 | +4.7% |
Other metro areas in Missouri
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas City | $36,080 | 16,540 | |
| 2 | St. Louis | $31,200 | 20,170 | |
| 3 | St. Joseph | $30,490 | 600 | |
| 4 | Jefferson City | $30,280 | 820 | |
| 5 | Springfield | $29,350 | 3,050 | |
| 6 | Columbia | $29,250 | 2,120 | |
| 7 | Joplin | $28,600 | 1,220 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Cape Girardeau run 9.2% below the national average, so the median of $28,710 goes as far as $31,619 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 10.2% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$28,710as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$31,619US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $28,710 a year, 18.5% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $28,600 to $60,520 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 820 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Kansas City, at $36,080.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Cape Girardeau, MO?
The median annual wage is $28,710, or $13.81 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $35,230, so pay in Cape Girardeau, MO is 18.5% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Cape Girardeau, MO earns more than $60,520 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $28,600 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Kansas City, at $36,080 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 820 jobs in this occupation in Cape Girardeau, MO. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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