Waiters and Waitresses salary in North Carolina
Waiters and Waitresses in North Carolina earn a median of $32,150 a year ($15.46 an hour), based on BLS data for 71,940 workers.
Pay ranges from $17,140 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,670 for the top 10%. That is 9% lower than the national median of $35,230. North Carolina ranks 27th of 51 states for waiters and waitresses pay. There are 15 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $37,850, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in North Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $17,140 | $8.24 |
| 25th percentile | $20,800 | $10.00 |
| Median | $32,150 | $15.46 |
| 75th percentile | $48,550 | $23.34 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,670 | $30.13 |
| Average (mean) | $37,850 | $18.20 |
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 | $2,679.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,339.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,236.54 |
| Weekly | $618.27 |
| Hourly | $15.46 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in cities in North Carolina
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $39,020 | 13,100 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $36,430 | 19,990 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $35,230 | 3,560 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in North Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,570 | $13.74 |
| Bartender | $36,470 | $17.53 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,460 | $15.13 |
| 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 35-3031. 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 North Carolina?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in North Carolina is $32,150 a year, or $15.46 an hour. Pay ranges from $17,140 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,670 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in North Carolina?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in North Carolina earn at least $62,670 a year. The top 25% earn $48,550 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in North Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $17,140 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $20,800 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in North Carolina?
About 71,940 waiters and waitresses are employed in North Carolina, not counting the self-employed.