Waiters and Waitresses salary in Wilmington, NC
Waiters and Waitresses in the Wilmington, NC metro area earn a median of $30,610 a year ($14.72 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,920 workers.
Pay ranges from $17,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,310 for the top 10%. That is 13% lower than the national median of $35,230. Pay here is 5% lower than the North Carolina statewide median of $32,150. There are 26 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $36,000, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Wilmington, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $17,530 | $8.43 |
| 25th percentile | $18,720 | $9.00 |
| Median | $30,610 | $14.72 |
| 75th percentile | $47,590 | $22.88 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,310 | $28.52 |
| Average (mean) | $36,000 | $17.31 |
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 | $2,550.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,275.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,177.31 |
| Weekly | $588.65 |
| Hourly | $14.72 |
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 |
| 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 |
| 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 Wilmington, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,460 | $13.20 |
| Bartender | $37,890 | $18.22 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,810 | $16.74 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,500 | $13.22 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $34,940 | $16.80 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $44,360 | $21.33 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $31,830 | $15.30 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,250 | $13.58 |
| Dishwasher | $29,870 | $14.36 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,320 | $13.14 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,050 | $17.33 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $30,350 | $14.59 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $58,120 | $27.94 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $29,620 | $14.24 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Wilmington, 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 Wilmington, NC?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in the Wilmington, NC metro area is $30,610 a year, or $14.72 an hour. Pay ranges from $17,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,310 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Wilmington, NC?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in the Wilmington, NC metro area earn at least $59,310 a year. The top 25% earn $47,590 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Wilmington, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $17,530 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $18,720 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in Wilmington, NC?
About 4,920 waiters and waitresses are employed in the Wilmington, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.