Waiters and Waitresses salary in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
Waiters and Waitresses in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn a median of $39,020 a year ($18.76 an hour), based on BLS data for 13,100 workers.
Pay ranges from $27,860 for the lowest-paid 10% to $70,850 for the top 10%. That is 11% higher than the national median of $35,230. Pay here is 13% lower than the Virginia statewide median of $44,760. There are 17 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $44,510, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,860 | $13.39 |
| 25th percentile | $30,060 | $14.45 |
| Median | $39,020 | $18.76 |
| 75th percentile | $48,570 | $23.35 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $70,850 | $34.06 |
| Average (mean) | $44,510 | $21.40 |
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 | $3,251.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,625.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,500.77 |
| Weekly | $750.38 |
| Hourly | $18.76 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $39,020 salary, see how much house you can afford in Virginia 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $46,040 | 46,160 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $44,760 | 1,150 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $44,030 | 2,140 |
| Richmond, VA | $38,470 | 9,120 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $37,910 | 690 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $37,680 | 990 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $37,670 | 1,080 |
| Roanoke, VA | $37,380 | 2,220 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $36,780 | 1,410 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $36,430 | 19,990 |
| 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 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $28,210 | 1,800 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $26,900 | 580 |
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 Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,780 | $13.84 |
| Bartender | $46,700 | $22.45 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,710 | $16.69 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,280 | $17.44 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $41,800 | $20.09 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,380 | $13.64 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $32,580 | $15.66 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,330 | $14.10 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,670 | $13.79 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,440 | $18.48 |
| Dishwasher | $29,770 | $14.31 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $27,830 | $13.38 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $57,730 | $27.75 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $36,780 | $17.68 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
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 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area is $39,020 a year, or $18.76 an hour. Pay ranges from $27,860 for the lowest-paid 10% to $70,850 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn at least $70,850 a year. The top 25% earn $48,570 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $27,860 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $30,060 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
About 13,100 waiters and waitresses are employed in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.