Waiters and Waitresses Salary in North Carolina
Median annual wage in North Carolina: $32,150 -8.7% vs national
North Carolina vs United States
| North Carolina | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual | $32,150 | $35,230 |
| Median hourly | $15.46 | $16.94 |
| Employment | 71,940 | 2,270,910 |
| Location quotient | 1 | 1.00 |
Data source: BLS OES state file (North Carolina) · U.S. BLS OES, May 2024 (updated April 2025)
Reading the data
Pay spans a wide range: workers at the 10th percentile earn about $17,140, while those at the 90th percentile earn about $62,670 — a 3.7x gap between entry-level and top earners.
At $15.46 per hour, a full-time schedule (2,080 hours per year) works out to roughly $32,157 — in line with the reported median annual wage of $32,150.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average waiters and waitresses salary in North Carolina?
The median annual wage in North Carolina is $32,150 ($15.46 per hour), per BLS OES May 2024 data.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for waiters and waitresses?
The North Carolina median of $32,150 is 8.7% lower than the U.S. median of $35,230.
How many waiters and waitresses work in North Carolina?
Approximately 71,940 are employed in North Carolina, per BLS OES.