Waiters and Waitresses pay range in Charleston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $16,340 a year or less, while the top 10% make $59,790 or more. The middle half of waiters and waitresses in Charleston earn between $18,050 and $30,260.
- $16K10th
- $18K25th
- $19KMedian
- $30K75th
- $60K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $28,460 | $2,372 | $13.68 |
| Median | $19,340 | $1,612 | $9.30 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $18,050 | $1,504 | $8.68 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $30,260 | $2,522 | $14.55 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Waiters and Waitresses pay in Charleston vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Waiters and waitresses in Charleston earn 10% more than the South Carolina average ($25,900) and 29% less than the U.S. average ($40,060). At the median the gap is -45% against the U.S. median of $35,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $28,460 | $19,340 | $16,340 | $59,790 | 9,580 |
| South Carolina | $25,900 | $18,370 | $15,080 | $46,820 | 47,200 |
| 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 Charleston
On the average salary of $28,460, a single filer in Charleston takes home about $24,779 a year, or $2,065 a month and $953 every two weeks. Taxes take 13% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Charleston a good place for waiters and waitresses? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charleston area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 101.0), so the average $28,460 buys what about $28,189 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Charleston ($49,150). A typical home costs $435,877, or 15.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other South Carolina cities
Charleston ranks 1st of 8 South Carolina metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Charleston$28,460
- Hilton Head Island$28,270
- Greenville$26,850
- Sumter$25,780
- Myrtle Beach$24,780
- Spartanburg$24,780
- Florence$24,150
- Columbia$23,610
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 Charleston: questions
How much do waiters and waitresses make an hour in Charleston?
$13.68 an hour on average, and $9.30 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level waiters and waitresses salary in Charleston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $16,340 a year and the 25th percentile is $18,050, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the waiters and waitresses take-home pay in Charleston?
About $24,779 a year ($2,065 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $28,460.
Do waiters and waitresses earn more in Charleston than elsewhere?
The average here is 29% 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 Charleston-North Charleston, SC (16700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.7%.
- 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 1.66, this job is 1.7 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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