Waiter and Waitress Salary in Durham, NC
Waiters and Waitresses in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median $35,230 a year — 0% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,590 take-home, or $2,466 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Durham, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,048
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,184
- Medicare (1.45%)$511
- North Carolina income tax$897
- Take-home pay$29,590
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Durham, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $18,020 | $8.66 | $16,239 | $1,353 |
| 25th percentile | $20,560 | $9.88 | $18,230 | $1,519 |
| Median (50th) | $35,230 | $16.94 | $29,590 | $2,466 |
| 75th percentile | $49,150 | $23.63 | $40,220 | $3,352 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,540 | $30.07 | $50,444 | $4,204 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,230 buys in Durham, NC
Prices in Durham, NC are 2.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $29,590 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,327 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Waiter and Waitress jobs are less concentrated in Durham, NC than nationally (location quotient 0.71), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Durham, NC ranks #66 of 148 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului, HI | $82,550 | $62,160 | $56,823 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $57,280 | $48,204 | $43,375 |
| 3 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $60,250 | $47,542 | $42,846 |
| 4 | Spokane, WA | $48,560 | $41,198 | $41,056 |
| 5 | Syracuse, NY | $47,640 | $38,483 | $40,195 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $54,780 | $42,232 | $40,060 |
| 7 | Albany, NY | $48,980 | $39,488 | $39,660 |
| 8 | Buffalo, NY | $46,580 | $37,689 | $39,323 |
| 66 | Durham, NC | $35,230 | $29,590 | $30,327 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 148 metros →
Waiter and Waitress salaries elsewhere in North Carolina
- Charlotte, NC — $36,430
- Asheville, NC — $34,450
- Raleigh, NC — $34,860
- Greensboro, NC — $30,060
- Winston, NC — $29,550
- Wilmington, NC — $30,610
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Durham, NC?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $35,230 a year, or about $16.94 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $20,560 and $49,150.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Durham, NC?
On the median $35,230 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $29,590 a year ($2,466 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $897 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Durham, NC a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 0% above the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 2.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,327 would in a typical U.S. city. Durham, NC ranks #66 of 148 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Durham, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Durham, NC is $1,456 a month ($1,660 for two bedrooms) — 59% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Durham, NC
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,170
- Cooks, Fast Food — $29,190
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,170