Waiter and Waitress Salary in Hickory, NC
Waiters and Waitresses in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area earn a median $29,310 a year — 17% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,070 take-home, or $2,089 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Hickory, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,337
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,817
- Medicare (1.45%)$425
- North Carolina income tax$661
- Take-home pay$25,070
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Hickory, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $16,170 | $7.77 | $14,790 | $1,232 |
| 25th percentile | $18,350 | $8.82 | $16,498 | $1,375 |
| Median (50th) | $29,310 | $14.09 | $25,070 | $2,089 |
| 75th percentile | $46,040 | $22.13 | $37,845 | $3,154 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $57,830 | $27.80 | $46,848 | $3,904 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $29,310 buys in Hickory, NC
Prices in Hickory, NC are 11.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 40% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $25,070 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,332 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 Hickory, NC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.89).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Hickory, NC ranks #186 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 |
| 186 | Hickory, NC | $29,310 | $25,070 | $28,332 |
*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
- Greenville, NC — $28,680
- Goldsboro, NC — $28,530
- Greensboro, NC — $30,060
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Hickory, NC?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area is $29,310 a year, or about $14.09 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $18,350 and $46,040.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Hickory, NC?
On the median $29,310 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $25,070 a year ($2,089 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $661 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Hickory, NC a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 17% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 11.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,332 would in a typical U.S. city. Hickory, NC ranks #186 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Hickory, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Hickory, NC is $908 a month ($1,095 for two bedrooms) — 43% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Hickory, NC
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $41,780
- Bartender — $31,860
- Cooks, Restaurant — $30,380
- Food Preparation Worker — $27,680
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,580
- Cooks, Fast Food — $27,550