Waiters and Waitresses salary in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
Waiters and Waitresses in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn a median of $36,430 a year ($17.51 an hour), based on BLS data for 19,990 workers.
Pay ranges from $18,100 for the lowest-paid 10% to $74,440 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $35,230. Pay here is 13% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $32,150. There are 15 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $40,850, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $18,100 | $8.70 |
| 25th percentile | $21,030 | $10.11 |
| Median | $36,430 | $17.51 |
| 75th percentile | $57,580 | $27.68 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $74,440 | $35.79 |
| Average (mean) | $40,850 | $19.64 |
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 | $3,035.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,517.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,401.15 |
| Weekly | $700.58 |
| Hourly | $17.51 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $36,430 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.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $39,020 | 13,100 |
| 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 |
| Wilmington, NC | $30,610 | 4,920 |
| 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 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $19,950 | 9,090 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $19,830 | 3,390 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $19,340 | 9,580 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $18,390 | 3,820 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $18,370 | 2,140 |
| Columbia, SC | $17,810 | 6,580 |
| Florence, SC | $17,460 | 1,250 |
| Sumter, SC | $17,440 | 490 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $17,350 | 6,390 |
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 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,880 | $13.88 |
| Bartender | $37,390 | $17.97 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $33,550 | $16.13 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,690 | $13.31 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,030 | $17.80 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $47,280 | $22.73 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,180 | $16.43 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,550 | $14.21 |
| Dishwasher | $31,920 | $15.35 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,470 | $14.17 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,690 | $18.12 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $31,440 | $15.12 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $64,260 | $30.90 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $34,600 | $16.64 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
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 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area is $36,430 a year, or $17.51 an hour. Pay ranges from $18,100 for the lowest-paid 10% to $74,440 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn at least $74,440 a year. The top 25% earn $57,580 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $18,100 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $21,030 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
About 19,990 waiters and waitresses are employed in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.