Waiter and Waitress Salary in Wheeling, WV
Waiters and Waitresses in the Wheeling, WV-OH metro area earn a median $30,740 a year — 13% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $26,089 take-home, or $2,174 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Wheeling, WV. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,509
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,906
- Medicare (1.45%)$446
- West Virginia income tax$791
- Take-home pay$26,089
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.33% state
The Wheeling, WV-OH metro spans West Virginia, Ohio. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Wheeling, WV
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $20,890 | $10.04 | $18,328 | $1,527 |
| 25th percentile | $24,170 | $11.62 | $20,932 | $1,744 |
| Median (50th) | $30,740 | $14.78 | $26,089 | $2,174 |
| 75th percentile | $45,480 | $21.87 | $37,403 | $3,117 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,480 | $28.60 | $48,031 | $4,003 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, West Virginia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $30,740 buys in Wheeling, WV
Prices in Wheeling, WV are 11.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 49% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $26,089 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,538 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 Wheeling, WV as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.04).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Wheeling, WV ranks #158 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 |
| 158 | Wheeling, WV | $30,740 | $26,089 | $29,538 |
*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 West Virginia
- Charleston, WV — $36,900
- Parkersburg, WV — $35,290
- Weirton, WV — $35,840
- Beckley, WV — $33,650
- Morgantown, WV — $35,480
- Huntington, WV — $30,690
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Wheeling, WV?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Wheeling, WV-OH metro area is $30,740 a year, or about $14.78 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $24,170 and $45,480.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Wheeling, WV?
On the median $30,740 salary, a single filer living in West Virginia takes home about $26,089 a year ($2,174 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $791 in West Virginia taxes in 2026.
Is Wheeling, WV a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 13% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 11.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,538 would in a typical U.S. city. Wheeling, WV ranks #158 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Wheeling, WV?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Wheeling, WV is $816 a month ($991 for two bedrooms) — 38% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Wheeling, WV
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $34,180
- Cooks, Restaurant — $29,710
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $26,150
- Cooks, Fast Food — $23,110