Salaries › Waiter / Waitress › North Carolina
Waiter / Waitress Salary in North Carolina (2026)
$15.46 per hour · take-home ≈ $27,238/year ($2,270/month) for a single filer
Waiter / Waitress pay range in North Carolina
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $17,140 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $20,800 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $32,150 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $48,550 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $62,670 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 71,940 Waiter / Waitress jobs in North Carolina (occupation code 35-3031, “Waiters and Waitresses”).
Gross vs. take-home in North Carolina
A median Waiter / Waitress salary of $32,150 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus North Carolina state income tax, a single filer keeps about $27,238 — an effective tax rate of 15.3%.
| Gross (median) | $32,150 |
| Federal income tax | −$1,678 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,459 |
| North Carolina state income tax | −$774 |
| Take-home (annual) | $27,238 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,270 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free North Carolina paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Waiter / Waitress make in North Carolina?
- The median Waiter / Waitress salary in North Carolina is $32,150 per year ($15.46 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $20,800 and $48,550.
- What is the take-home pay for a Waiter / Waitress in North Carolina?
- On the median salary of $32,150, a single filer in North Carolina takes home about $27,238 per year ($2,270 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 15.3%.
- How many Waiter / Waitress jobs are there in North Carolina?
- BLS counts 71,940 Waiter / Waitress jobs in North Carolina in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Waiter / Waitresss
Other salaries in North Carolina
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified North Carolina state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for North Carolina.