Waiter and Waitress Salary in Fayetteville, NC
Waiters and Waitresses in the Fayetteville, NC metro area earn a median $29,520 a year — 16% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,230 take-home, or $2,103 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Fayetteville, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,362
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,830
- Medicare (1.45%)$428
- North Carolina income tax$669
- Take-home pay$25,230
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Fayetteville, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $16,590 | $7.98 | $15,119 | $1,260 |
| 25th percentile | $18,530 | $8.91 | $16,639 | $1,387 |
| Median (50th) | $29,520 | $14.19 | $25,230 | $2,103 |
| 75th percentile | $46,100 | $22.16 | $37,891 | $3,158 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $57,580 | $27.68 | $46,657 | $3,888 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $29,520 buys in Fayetteville, NC
Prices in Fayetteville, NC are 8.0% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 27% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $25,230 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,431 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 about as common in Fayetteville, NC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.03).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Fayetteville, NC ranks #217 of 375 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 | Burlington, VT | $61,620 | $50,061 | $49,591 |
| 3 | Bellingham, WA | $56,700 | $47,738 | $46,198 |
| 4 | Bremerton, WA | $55,270 | $46,589 | $44,116 |
| 5 | Mount Vernon, WA | $53,060 | $44,814 | $43,745 |
| 6 | Yakima, WA | $49,060 | $41,600 | $43,539 |
| 7 | Kennewick, WA | $51,460 | $43,528 | $43,494 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $57,280 | $48,204 | $43,375 |
| 217 | Fayetteville, NC | $29,520 | $25,230 | $27,431 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 375 metros →
Waiter and Waitress salaries elsewhere in North Carolina
- Pinehurst, NC — $34,080
- Charlotte, NC — $36,430
- Durham, NC — $35,230
- Asheville, NC — $34,450
- Raleigh, NC — $34,860
- Hickory, NC — $29,310
- Greenville, NC — $28,680
- Goldsboro, NC — $28,530
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Fayetteville, NC?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Fayetteville, NC metro area is $29,520 a year, or about $14.19 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $18,530 and $46,100.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Fayetteville, NC?
On the median $29,520 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $25,230 a year ($2,103 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $669 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Fayetteville, NC a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 16% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 8.0% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,431 would in a typical U.S. city. Fayetteville, NC ranks #217 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Fayetteville, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Fayetteville, NC is $1,065 a month ($1,217 for two bedrooms) — 51% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Fayetteville, NC
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,760
- Bartender — $34,880
- Cooks, Restaurant — $32,720
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,170
- Food Preparation Worker — $27,590
- Cooks, Fast Food — $23,430