Waiters and Waitresses salary in Charleston, WV
Waiters and Waitresses in the Charleston, WV metro area earn a median of $36,900 a year ($17.74 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,190 workers.
Pay ranges from $20,270 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,540 for the top 10%. That is 5% higher than the national median of $35,230. Pay here is 4% higher than the West Virginia statewide median of $35,380. There are 12 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.79). The average (mean) salary is $38,270, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Charleston, WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $20,270 | $9.75 |
| 25th percentile | $27,170 | $13.06 |
| Median | $36,900 | $17.74 |
| 75th percentile | $48,160 | $23.16 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,540 | $28.14 |
| Average (mean) | $38,270 | $18.40 |
Half of waiters and waitresses 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 | $3,075 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,537.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,419.23 |
| Weekly | $709.62 |
| Hourly | $17.74 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $46,040 | 46,160 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $37,680 | 990 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $35,840 | 500 |
| Morgantown, WV | $35,480 | 1,040 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $35,290 | 610 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $34,470 | 1,320 |
| Beckley, WV | $33,650 | 650 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $30,740 | 880 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $30,690 | 1,720 |
Highest-paying states for waiters and waitresses
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $62,390 |
| Vermont | $59,140 |
| Washington | $56,130 |
| Oregon | $48,410 |
| District of Columbia | $47,850 |
| New York | $47,020 |
| New Jersey | $44,960 |
| Colorado | $44,860 |
| Virginia | $44,760 |
| Arizona | $43,950 |
See Waiters and Waitresses pay in every state or the West Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Charleston, WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $22,380 | $10.76 |
| Bartender | $30,900 | $14.86 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $30,330 | $14.58 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $23,180 | $11.14 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $30,450 | $14.64 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $29,450 | $14.16 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $30,050 | $14.45 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $27,970 | $13.45 |
| Dishwasher | $26,440 | $12.71 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $25,470 | $12.25 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,360 | $13.15 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $27,590 | $13.26 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Charleston, WV
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-3031. 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 waiters and waitresses make in Charleston, WV?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in the Charleston, WV metro area is $36,900 a year, or $17.74 an hour. Pay ranges from $20,270 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,540 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Charleston, WV?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in the Charleston, WV metro area earn at least $58,540 a year. The top 25% earn $48,160 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Charleston, WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $20,270 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $27,170 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in Charleston, WV?
About 1,190 waiters and waitresses are employed in the Charleston, WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.