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Waiters and Waitresses Salary in North Carolina

What Waiters and Waitresses earn in North Carolina, labor market by labor market, and what is left after taxes and living costs in 14 counties.

Average in NC
$33,568
local median wages, weighted
Rank among states
21 of 36
published states
Workers in state
86,840
BLS employment estimate
Wage areas
3
14 counties

Pay by labor market in North Carolina

Waiters and Waitresses pay by wage area in North Carolina
Wage areaMedian wageTake-home payMargin per yearLargest county
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC$39,020$32,365$7,463Currituck County, NC
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC$36,430$30,394$3,668Mecklenburg County, NC
Raleigh-Cary, NC$34,860$29,199$3,529Wake County, NC

Counties ranked by what is left after the basics

Waiters and Waitresses in North Carolina counties, by yearly margin
#CountyMedian wageTake-home payMargin per year
1Anson County, NC$36,430$30,394$12,608
2Rowan County, NC$36,430$30,394$11,204
3Lincoln County, NC$36,430$30,394$10,808
4Camden County, NC$39,020$32,365$10,679
5Iredell County, NC$36,430$30,394$7,592
6Currituck County, NC$39,020$32,365$7,463
7Gates County, NC$39,020$32,365$7,451
8Mecklenburg County, NC$36,430$30,394$3,668
9Union County, NC$36,430$30,394$3,668
10Cabarrus County, NC$36,430$30,394$3,668
11Gaston County, NC$36,430$30,394$3,668
12Wake County, NC$34,860$29,199$3,529
13Johnston County, NC$34,860$29,199$3,529
14Franklin County, NC$34,860$29,199$3,529

Waiters and Waitresses pay in North Carolina

The employment-weighted average of local median wages for Waiters and Waitresses in North Carolina is $33,568, based on 86,840 workers. Among the 36 states with published data, that ranks number 21. The BLS national median for the occupation is $35,230, so North Carolina averages 4.7% below it.

Inside North Carolina, pay depends on the labor market. The highest local median is $39,020 in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC area and the lowest is $34,860 in Raleigh-Cary, NC, a difference of $4,160 across 3 wage areas.

Cost of living for Waiters and Waitresses in North Carolina

We compare 14 North Carolina counties after federal, Social Security, Medicare and state taxes and the four basics: a one-bedroom rental, food, home energy and gasoline. Anson County, NC leaves the largest yearly margin, $12,608. Franklin County, NC leaves the smallest, $3,529. The median wage covers all four basics in 14 of the 14 counties.

Waiters and Waitresses in other states

The states with the highest average local median wages for Waiters and Waitresses are Washington ($54,839), Oregon ($50,502), New York ($47,178) and District of Columbia ($46,040).

Frequently asked questions: Waiters and Waitresses in North Carolina

How much do Waiters and Waitresses earn in North Carolina?

The employment-weighted average of local median wages is $33,568, from $34,860 to $39,020 depending on the labor market.

Which North Carolina county is best for Waiters and Waitresses?

Anson County, NC leaves the largest yearly margin after taxes and the four basics ($12,608). Rowan County, NC follows at $11,204.