Waiter and Waitress Salary in Wilmington, NC
Waiters and Waitresses in the Wilmington, NC metro area earn a median $30,610 a year — 13% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $26,063 take-home, or $2,172 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Wilmington, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,493
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,898
- Medicare (1.45%)$444
- North Carolina income tax$713
- Take-home pay$26,063
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 Wilmington, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $17,530 | $8.43 | $15,855 | $1,321 |
| 25th percentile | $18,720 | $9.00 | $16,788 | $1,399 |
| Median (50th) | $30,610 | $14.72 | $26,063 | $2,172 |
| 75th percentile | $47,590 | $22.88 | $39,028 | $3,252 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,310 | $28.51 | $47,978 | $3,998 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $30,610 buys in Wilmington, NC
Prices in Wilmington, NC are 3.6% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 7% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $26,063 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,030 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Wilmington, NC has 1.8× 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
Wilmington, NC ranks #98 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 |
| 98 | Wilmington, NC | $30,610 | $26,063 | $27,030 |
*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 North Carolina
- Charlotte, NC — $36,430
- Durham, NC — $35,230
- Asheville, NC — $34,450
- Raleigh, NC — $34,860
- Greensboro, NC — $30,060
- Winston, NC — $29,550
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Wilmington, NC?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Wilmington, NC metro area is $30,610 a year, or about $14.72 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $18,720 and $47,590.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Wilmington, NC?
On the median $30,610 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $26,063 a year ($2,172 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $713 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Wilmington, NC a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 13% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 3.6% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,030 would in a typical U.S. city. Wilmington, NC ranks #98 of 148 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Wilmington, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Wilmington, NC is $1,380 a month ($1,512 for two bedrooms) — 64% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Wilmington, NC
- Cooks, Restaurant — $34,940
- Cooks, Fast Food — $27,500
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,460