Waiter and Waitress Salary in Myrtle Beach, SC
Waiters and Waitresses in the Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC metro area earn a median $17,350 a year — 51% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $15,737 take-home, or $1,311 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Myrtle Beach, SC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$125
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,076
- Medicare (1.45%)$252
- South Carolina income tax$161
- Take-home pay$15,737
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 3.00% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Myrtle Beach, SC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,080 | $7.25 | $13,834 | $1,153 |
| 25th percentile | $15,970 | $7.68 | $14,629 | $1,219 |
| Median (50th) | $17,350 | $8.34 | $15,737 | $1,311 |
| 75th percentile | $28,020 | $13.47 | $24,160 | $2,013 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,150 | $22.19 | $37,650 | $3,137 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $17,350 buys in Myrtle Beach, SC
Prices in Myrtle Beach, SC are 6.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 17% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $15,737 take-home pay has the buying power of $16,805 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Myrtle Beach, SC has 3.0× 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
Myrtle Beach, SC ranks #142 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 |
| 142 | Myrtle Beach, SC | $17,350 | $15,737 | $16,805 |
*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 South Carolina
- Greenville, SC — $19,950
- Hilton Head Island, SC — $19,830
- Columbia, SC — $17,810
- Charleston, SC — $19,340
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Myrtle Beach, SC?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC metro area is $17,350 a year, or about $8.34 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $15,970 and $28,020.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Myrtle Beach, SC?
On the median $17,350 salary, a single filer living in South Carolina takes home about $15,737 a year ($1,311 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $161 in South Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Myrtle Beach, SC a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 51% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 6.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $16,805 would in a typical U.S. city. Myrtle Beach, SC ranks #142 of 148 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Myrtle Beach, SC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Myrtle Beach, SC is $1,229 a month ($1,465 for two bedrooms) — 94% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Myrtle Beach, SC
- Cooks, Restaurant — $35,190
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,600