Waiter and Waitress Salary in Jacksonville, NC
Waiters and Waitresses in the Jacksonville, NC metro area earn a median $28,870 a year — 18% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $24,734 take-home, or $2,061 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Jacksonville, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,284
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,790
- Medicare (1.45%)$419
- North Carolina income tax$643
- Take-home pay$24,734
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Jacksonville, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,480 | $7.44 | $14,187 | $1,182 |
| 25th percentile | $17,620 | $8.47 | $15,926 | $1,327 |
| Median (50th) | $28,870 | $13.88 | $24,734 | $2,061 |
| 75th percentile | $46,440 | $22.33 | $38,150 | $3,179 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $57,360 | $27.58 | $46,489 | $3,874 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $28,870 buys in Jacksonville, NC
Prices in Jacksonville, NC are 7.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 28% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $24,734 take-home pay has the buying power of $26,860 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Jacksonville, NC has 1.5× 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
Jacksonville, NC ranks #238 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 |
| 238 | Jacksonville, NC | $28,870 | $24,734 | $26,860 |
*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 Jacksonville, NC?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Jacksonville, NC metro area is $28,870 a year, or about $13.88 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $17,620 and $46,440.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Jacksonville, NC?
On the median $28,870 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $24,734 a year ($2,061 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $643 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Jacksonville, NC a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 18% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 7.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $26,860 would in a typical U.S. city. Jacksonville, NC ranks #238 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Jacksonville, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Jacksonville, NC is $935 a month ($1,173 for two bedrooms) — 45% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Jacksonville, NC
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $37,580
- Cooks, Restaurant — $29,580
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,330
- Cooks, Fast Food — $22,900