Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median of $34,500 a year ($16.59 an hour), based on BLS data for 740 workers.
Pay ranges from $15,540 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,950 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $35,360. Pay here is 10% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $31,460. There are 2.1 food servers, nonrestaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $33,170, close to the median.
Pay range for food servers, nonrestaurant in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,540 | $7.47 |
| 25th percentile | $25,660 | $12.34 |
| Median | $34,500 | $16.59 |
| 75th percentile | $38,690 | $18.60 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,950 | $21.13 |
| Average (mean) | $33,170 | $15.95 |
Half of food servers, nonrestaurant 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 | $2,875 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,437.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,326.92 |
| Weekly | $663.46 |
| Hourly | $16.59 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $34,500 salary, see how much house you can afford in North Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Goldsboro, NC | $38,980 | 50 |
| Asheville, NC | $35,040 | 420 |
| Wilmington, NC | $34,810 | 410 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $34,710 | 1,490 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $34,620 | 560 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $33,550 | 2,260 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $32,470 | 1,280 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $31,460 | 100 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $31,370 | 210 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $30,790 | 250 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $29,730 | 190 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $29,030 | 900 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $28,760 | 110 |
| Burlington, NC | $28,670 | 90 |
| Greenville, NC | $27,370 | 70 |
Highest-paying states for food servers, nonrestaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $39,370 |
| California | $39,010 |
| Colorado | $38,900 |
| Washington | $38,870 |
| Alaska | $38,090 |
| District of Columbia | $37,920 |
| Hawaii | $37,920 |
| Maine | $37,680 |
| Vermont | $37,540 |
| North Dakota | $36,910 |
See Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,170 | $14.02 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $35,230 | $16.94 |
| Bartender | $37,110 | $17.84 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,190 | $14.04 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,170 | $17.39 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,150 | $22.19 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,560 | $16.62 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,970 | $18.73 |
| Dishwasher | $33,800 | $16.25 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,440 | $14.16 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,410 | $13.18 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $66,090 | $31.77 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $34,480 | $16.58 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $35,040 | $16.85 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-3041. 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 food servers, nonrestaurant make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median salary for food servers, nonrestaurant in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $34,500 a year, or $16.59 an hour. Pay ranges from $15,540 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,950 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food servers, nonrestaurant make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The top 10% of food servers, nonrestaurant in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn at least $43,950 a year. The top 25% earn $38,690 or more.
What is the starting pay for food servers, nonrestaurant in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $15,540 a year, and a quarter of food servers, nonrestaurant earn $25,660 or less.
How many food servers, nonrestaurant work in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
About 740 food servers, nonrestaurant are employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.