Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in North Carolina
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in North Carolina earn a median of $31,460 a year ($15.13 an hour), based on BLS data for 8,820 workers.
Pay ranges from $23,760 for the lowest-paid 10% to $40,110 for the top 10%. That is 11% lower than the national median of $35,360. North Carolina ranks 38th of 51 states for food servers, nonrestaurant pay. There are 1.8 food servers, nonrestaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $33,150, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food servers, nonrestaurant in North Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,760 | $11.42 |
| 25th percentile | $27,880 | $13.41 |
| Median | $31,460 | $15.13 |
| 75th percentile | $37,540 | $18.05 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $40,110 | $19.29 |
| Average (mean) | $33,150 | $15.94 |
Half of food servers, nonrestaurant 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 | $2,621.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,310.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,210 |
| Weekly | $605 |
| Hourly | $15.13 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $31,460 salary, see how much house you can afford in North Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in cities in North Carolina
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Goldsboro, NC | $38,980 | 50 |
| Asheville, NC | $35,040 | 420 |
| Wilmington, NC | $34,810 | 410 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $34,710 | 1,490 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $34,620 | 560 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $34,500 | 740 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $33,550 | 2,260 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $32,470 | 1,280 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $31,460 | 100 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $31,370 | 210 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $30,790 | 250 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $29,730 | 190 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $29,030 | 900 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $28,760 | 110 |
| Burlington, NC | $28,670 | 90 |
| Greenville, NC | $27,370 | 70 |
Highest-paying states for food servers, nonrestaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $39,370 |
| California | $39,010 |
| Colorado | $38,900 |
| Washington | $38,870 |
| Alaska | $38,090 |
| District of Columbia | $37,920 |
| Hawaii | $37,920 |
| Maine | $37,680 |
| Vermont | $37,540 |
| North Dakota | $36,910 |
Related jobs in North Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,570 | $13.74 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $32,150 | $15.46 |
| Bartender | $36,470 | $17.53 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,190 | $13.07 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,400 | $17.02 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $45,010 | $21.64 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,260 | $14.55 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,320 | $13.62 |
| Dishwasher | $30,340 | $14.59 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,560 | $13.25 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,140 | $17.38 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $61,130 | $29.39 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $30,160 | $14.50 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $31,290 | $15.04 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in North Carolina
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-3041. 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 food servers, nonrestaurant make in North Carolina?
The median salary for food servers, nonrestaurant in North Carolina is $31,460 a year, or $15.13 an hour. Pay ranges from $23,760 for the lowest-paid 10% to $40,110 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food servers, nonrestaurant make in North Carolina?
The top 10% of food servers, nonrestaurant in North Carolina earn at least $40,110 a year. The top 25% earn $37,540 or more.
What is the starting pay for food servers, nonrestaurant in North Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $23,760 a year, and a quarter of food servers, nonrestaurant earn $27,880 or less.
How many food servers, nonrestaurant work in North Carolina?
About 8,820 food servers, nonrestaurant are employed in North Carolina, not counting the self-employed.