Waiters and Waitresses salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Waiters and Waitresses in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median of $35,230 a year ($16.94 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,560 workers.
Pay ranges from $18,020 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,540 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $35,230. Pay here is 10% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $32,150. There are 10 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.71). The average (mean) salary is $38,040, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $18,020 | $8.66 |
| 25th percentile | $20,560 | $9.89 |
| Median | $35,230 | $16.94 |
| 75th percentile | $49,150 | $23.63 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,540 | $30.07 |
| Average (mean) | $38,040 | $18.29 |
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 | $2,935.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,467.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,355 |
| Weekly | $677.50 |
| Hourly | $16.94 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $39,020 | 13,100 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $36,430 | 19,990 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $34,860 | 10,290 |
| Asheville, NC | $34,450 | 3,250 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $34,080 | 1,040 |
| Wilmington, NC | $30,610 | 4,920 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $30,060 | 5,210 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $29,550 | 3,940 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $29,520 | 1,980 |
| Burlington, NC | $29,330 | 1,100 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $29,310 | 2,000 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $28,870 | 1,140 |
| Greenville, NC | $28,680 | 1,310 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $28,530 | 640 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $26,900 | 580 |
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 North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,170 | $14.02 |
| Bartender | $37,110 | $17.84 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,500 | $16.59 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,190 | $14.04 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,170 | $17.39 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,150 | $22.19 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,560 | $16.62 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,970 | $18.73 |
| Dishwasher | $33,800 | $16.25 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,440 | $14.16 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,410 | $13.18 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $66,090 | $31.77 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $34,480 | $16.58 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $35,040 | $16.85 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $35,230 a year, or $16.94 an hour. Pay ranges from $18,020 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,540 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn at least $62,540 a year. The top 25% earn $49,150 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $18,020 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $20,560 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
About 3,560 waiters and waitresses are employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.