Waiter and Waitress salary in North Carolina
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A waiter and waitress in North Carolina earns a median of $32,150 a year ($15.46/hour equivalent), 8.7% below the national median of $35,230. North Carolina ranks #27 of 51 states. About 71,940 people do this job in North Carolina.
Take-home pay in North Carolina
At the North Carolina median, a single filer keeps about $27,238 a year after federal, FICA and North Carolina taxes — $1,048 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the North Carolina paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $1,236.54
- Federal income tax
- −$64.54
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$76.67
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$17.93
- North Carolina income tax
- −$29.77
- Take-home pay
- $1,047.63
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $32,150
- Federal
- $1,678
- FICA
- $2,459
- State + local
- $774
- Net
- $27,238
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 4.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
How North Carolina compares
| Rank | State | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Hawaii | $62,390 |
| #2 | Vermont | $59,140 |
| #3 | Washington | $56,130 |
| #4 | Oregon | $48,410 |
| #5 | District of Columbia | $47,850 |
| #27 | North Carolina | $32,150 |
| #49 | South Carolina | $18,370 |
| #50 | Oklahoma | $17,910 |
| #51 | Louisiana | $15,080 |
See the national waiter and waitress salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Waiters and Waitresses (SOC 35-3031), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in North Carolina?
The median salary is $32,150 a year and the average is $37,850 (BLS May 2025).
Is North Carolina a good state for waiters and waitresses?
North Carolina ranks #27 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 9% below the national median of $35,230.
What is $32,150 after taxes in North Carolina?
About $27,238 a year ($1,048 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.