Waiters and Waitresses pay range in Wilmington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $17,530 a year or less, while the top 10% make $59,310 or more. The middle half of waiters and waitresses in Wilmington earn between $18,720 and $47,590.
- $18K10th
- $19K25th
- $31KMedian
- $48K75th
- $59K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17.31 |
| Median | $30,610 | $2,551 | $14.72 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $18,720 | $1,560 | $9.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $47,590 | $3,966 | $22.88 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Waiters and Waitresses pay in Wilmington vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Waiters and waitresses in Wilmington earn 5% less than the North Carolina average ($37,850) and 10% less than the U.S. average ($40,060). At the median the gap is -13% against the U.S. median of $35,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | $36,000 | $30,610 | $17,530 | $59,310 | 4,920 |
| 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 Wilmington
On the average salary of $36,000, a single filer in Wilmington takes home about $30,178 a year, or $2,515 a month and $1,161 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Wilmington a good place for waiters and waitresses? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Wilmington area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.4), so the average $36,000 buys what about $37,336 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Wilmington ($45,800). A typical home costs $446,210, or 12.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other North Carolina cities
Wilmington ranks 7th 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 Wilmington: questions
How much do waiters and waitresses make an hour in Wilmington?
$17.31 an hour on average, and $14.72 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level waiters and waitresses salary in Wilmington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $17,530 a year and the 25th percentile is $18,720, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the waiters and waitresses take-home pay in Wilmington?
About $30,178 a year ($2,515 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $36,000.
Do waiters and waitresses earn more in Wilmington than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% 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 Wilmington, NC (48900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.8%.
- 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 1.76, this job is 1.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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