Waiter and Waitress Salary in Winston, NC
Waiters and Waitresses in the Winston-Salem, NC metro area earn a median $29,550 a year — 16% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,253 take-home, or $2,104 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Winston, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,366
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,832
- Medicare (1.45%)$428
- North Carolina income tax$670
- Take-home pay$25,253
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Winston, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $16,770 | $8.06 | $15,260 | $1,272 |
| 25th percentile | $18,490 | $8.89 | $16,607 | $1,384 |
| Median (50th) | $29,550 | $14.21 | $25,253 | $2,104 |
| 75th percentile | $46,660 | $22.43 | $38,318 | $3,193 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,510 | $28.13 | $47,367 | $3,947 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $29,550 buys in Winston, NC
Prices in Winston, NC are 8.0% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 29% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $25,253 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,436 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 Winston, NC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.99).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Winston, NC ranks #90 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 |
| 90 | Winston, NC | $29,550 | $25,253 | $27,436 |
*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 North Carolina
- Charlotte, NC — $36,430
- Durham, NC — $35,230
- Asheville, NC — $34,450
- Raleigh, NC — $34,860
- Greensboro, NC — $30,060
- Wilmington, NC — $30,610
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Winston, NC?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Winston-Salem, NC metro area is $29,550 a year, or about $14.21 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $18,490 and $46,660.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Winston, NC?
On the median $29,550 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $25,253 a year ($2,104 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $670 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Winston, NC a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 16% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 8.0% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,436 would in a typical U.S. city. Winston, NC ranks #90 of 148 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Winston, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Winston, NC is $1,031 a month ($1,164 for two bedrooms) — 49% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Winston, NC
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $44,620
- Cooks, Restaurant — $34,600
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,640
- Cooks, Fast Food — $27,280