Quick answer
Waiters and Waitresses in North Carolina earned a median of $32,150 a year ($15.46 an hour) in May 2025, 9% below the national median of $35,230; 71,940 were employed there, ranking #28 of 54 states and territories by median pay, per BLS OEWS.
Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025
| Measure | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $32,150 | $35,230 |
| Mean annual wage | $37,850 | $40,060 |
| Median hourly wage | $15.46 | $16.94 |
| 10th percentile | $17,140 | $18,100 |
| 25th percentile | $20,800 | $27,750 |
| 75th percentile | $48,550 | $47,110 |
| 90th percentile | $62,670 | $64,720 |
| Employment | 71,940 | 2,270,910 |
| Jobs per 1,000 | 14.557 | — |
| Location quotient | 1.00 | 1.00 |
Related
- Waiters and Waitresses salary in New Jersey (May 2025)
- Waiters and Waitresses salary in New Mexico (May 2025)
- Waiters and Waitresses salary in New York (May 2025)
- Waiters and Waitresses salary in North Dakota (May 2025)
- Waiters and Waitresses salary in Ohio (May 2025)
- Waiters and Waitresses salary in Oklahoma (May 2025)
- Waiters and Waitresses salary in Oregon (May 2025)
- Waiters and Waitresses salary in Pennsylvania (May 2025)
Last updated 2026-10-16. Data only, not financial or tax advice.