Waiter and Waitress Salary in Greenville, SC
Waiters and Waitresses in the Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC metro area earn a median $19,950 a year — 43% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $17,800 take-home, or $1,483 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Greenville, SC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$385
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,237
- Medicare (1.45%)$289
- South Carolina income tax$239
- Take-home pay$17,800
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 3.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Greenville, SC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,410 | $7.41 | $14,129 | $1,177 |
| 25th percentile | $17,970 | $8.64 | $16,229 | $1,352 |
| Median (50th) | $19,950 | $9.59 | $17,800 | $1,483 |
| 75th percentile | $31,490 | $15.14 | $26,750 | $2,229 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,730 | $22.47 | $38,081 | $3,173 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $19,950 buys in Greenville, SC
Prices in Greenville, SC are 6.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 23% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $17,800 take-home pay has the buying power of $19,086 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Greenville, SC has 1.4× the national concentration of waiter and waitress jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Greenville, SC ranks #135 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 |
| 135 | Greenville, SC | $19,950 | $17,800 | $19,086 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 148 metros →
About the job: waiters and waitresses
Take orders and serve food and beverages to patrons at tables in dining establishment.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.0% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Waiter and Waitress salaries elsewhere in South Carolina
- Hilton Head Island, SC — $19,830
- Columbia, SC — $17,810
- Charleston, SC — $19,340
- Myrtle Beach, SC — $17,350
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Greenville, SC?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC metro area is $19,950 a year, or about $9.59 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $17,970 and $31,490.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Greenville, SC?
On the median $19,950 salary, a single filer living in South Carolina takes home about $17,800 a year ($1,483 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $239 in South Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Greenville, SC a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 43% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 6.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $19,086 would in a typical U.S. city. Greenville, SC ranks #135 of 148 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Greenville, SC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Greenville, SC is $1,155 a month ($1,288 for two bedrooms) — 78% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Greenville, SC
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,790
- Cooks, Restaurant — $35,680
- Food Preparation Worker — $30,430
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,850