Waiters and Waitresses pay range in Durham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $18,020 a year or less, while the top 10% make $62,540 or more. The middle half of waiters and waitresses in Durham earn between $20,560 and $49,150.
- $18K10th
- $21K25th
- $35KMedian
- $49K75th
- $63K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $38,040 | $3,170 | $18.29 |
| Median | $35,230 | $2,936 | $16.94 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $20,560 | $1,713 | $9.88 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $49,150 | $4,096 | $23.63 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Waiters and Waitresses pay in Durham vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Waiters and waitresses in Durham earn about the same as the North Carolina average ($37,850) and 5% less than the U.S. average ($40,060). At the median the gap is +0% against the U.S. median of $35,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | $38,040 | $35,230 | $18,020 | $62,540 | 3,560 |
| North Carolina | $37,850 | $32,150 | $17,140 | $62,670 | 71,940 |
| United States | $40,060 | $35,230 | $18,100 | $64,720 | 2,270,910 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Waiters and Waitresses salary after taxes in Durham
On the average salary of $38,040, a single filer in Durham takes home about $31,736 a year, or $2,645 a month and $1,221 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Durham a good place for waiters and waitresses? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Durham area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.6), so the average $38,040 buys what about $38,987 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Durham ($60,720). A typical home costs $414,340, or 10.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other North Carolina cities
Durham ranks 5th of 15 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Charlotte pays the most ($40,850).
- Charlotte$40,850
- Asheville$39,780
- Raleigh$39,430
- Pinehurst$38,240
- Durham$38,040
- Greensboro$36,630
- Wilmington$36,000
- Burlington$35,420
- Winston-Salem$34,790
- Fayetteville$34,750
Highest-paying cities for waiters and waitresses
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($87,210).
- Kahului, HI$87,210
- Seattle, WA$62,940
- Honolulu, HI$61,880
- Bremerton, WA$61,770
- Burlington, VT$61,070
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Waiters and Waitresses salary in Durham: questions
How much do waiters and waitresses make an hour in Durham?
$18.29 an hour on average, and $16.94 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level waiters and waitresses salary in Durham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $18,020 a year and the 25th percentile is $20,560, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the waiters and waitresses take-home pay in Durham?
About $31,736 a year ($2,645 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $38,040.
Do waiters and waitresses earn more in Durham than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% less than the U.S. average for this job ($40,060).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-3031; area Durham-Chapel Hill, NC (20500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.71, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.71).
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