Waiter and Waitress Salary in Charleston, SC
Waiters and Waitresses in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area earn a median $19,340 a year — 45% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $17,316 take-home, or $1,443 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Charleston, SC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$324
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,199
- Medicare (1.45%)$280
- South Carolina income tax$221
- Take-home pay$17,316
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 3.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Charleston, SC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $16,340 | $7.86 | $14,935 | $1,245 |
| 25th percentile | $18,050 | $8.68 | $16,292 | $1,358 |
| Median (50th) | $19,340 | $9.30 | $17,316 | $1,443 |
| 75th percentile | $30,260 | $14.55 | $25,835 | $2,153 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,790 | $28.75 | $47,791 | $3,983 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $19,340 buys in Charleston, SC
Prices in Charleston, SC are 1.0% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.20× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $17,316 take-home pay has the buying power of $17,151 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Charleston, SC has 1.7× 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
Charleston, SC ranks #141 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 |
| 141 | Charleston, SC | $19,340 | $17,316 | $17,151 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 148 metros →
About the job: waiters and waitresses
Take orders and serve food and beverages to patrons at tables in dining establishment.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.0% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Waiter and Waitress salaries elsewhere in South Carolina
- Greenville, SC — $19,950
- Hilton Head Island, SC — $19,830
- Columbia, SC — $17,810
- Myrtle Beach, SC — $17,350
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Charleston, SC?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area is $19,340 a year, or about $9.30 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $18,050 and $30,260.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Charleston, SC?
On the median $19,340 salary, a single filer living in South Carolina takes home about $17,316 a year ($1,443 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $221 in South Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Charleston, SC a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 45% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 1.0% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $17,151 would in a typical U.S. city. Charleston, SC ranks #141 of 148 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Charleston, SC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Charleston, SC is $1,630 a month ($1,787 for two bedrooms) — 113% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Charleston, SC
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $43,620
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,710
- Food Preparation Worker — $36,220
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,500
- Bartender — $19,630