SOC 35-3041 · Burlington, NC metro

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant Salary in Burlington, NC

The average salary for food servers, nonrestaurant in Burlington, North Carolina is $30,610 a year ($14.72 an hour), according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $28,670: half of the 90 people in this job in the Burlington, NC metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is 15% less than the U.S. average for this job ($36,140).

$30,610average per year

$14.72 / hourMedian $28,670Take-home ≈ $26,063

  • $23K10th
  • $26K25th
  • $29KMedian
  • $34K75th
  • $38K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

90people in this job
-15%vs U.S. average
#12 of 15North Carolina metros
93cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay range in Burlington

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,400 a year or less, while the top 10% make $38,270 or more. The middle half of food servers, nonrestaurant in Burlington earn between $26,060 and $33,870.

  • $23K10th
  • $26K25th
  • $29KMedian
  • $34K75th
  • $38K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$30,610$2,551$14.72
Median$28,670$2,389$13.78
Entry level (25th percentile)$26,060$2,172$12.53
Experienced (75th percentile)$33,870$2,822$16.28

*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay in Burlington vs. North Carolina and the U.S.

Food servers, nonrestaurant in Burlington earn 8% less than the North Carolina average ($33,150) and 15% less than the U.S. average ($36,140). At the median the gap is -19% against the U.S. median of $35,360.

AreaAverageMedian10th pct.90th pct.Jobs
Burlington$30,610$28,670$23,400$38,27090
North Carolina$33,150$31,460$23,760$40,1108,820
United States$36,140$35,360$28,030$46,120293,900

State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary after taxes in Burlington

On the average salary of $30,610, a single filer in Burlington takes home about $26,063 a year, or $2,172 a month and $1,002 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.

Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).

North Carolina paycheck calculator: try your own salary

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Is Burlington a good place for food servers, nonrestaurant? Pay vs. cost of living

Prices in the Burlington area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.2), so the average $30,610 buys what about $32,845 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Burlington ($44,010). A typical home costs $298,353, or 9.7 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $30,610 is worth in another city

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in other North Carolina cities

Burlington ranks 12th of 15 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Goldsboro pays the most ($34,770).

All Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salaries in North Carolina

Highest-paying cities for food servers, nonrestaurant

Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($59,020).

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary by city

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Reviewed before it counts. Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Burlington, NC.

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Burlington: questions

How much do food servers, nonrestaurant make an hour in Burlington?

$14.72 an hour on average, and $13.78 at the median (BLS, May 2025).

What is the entry-level food servers, nonrestaurant salary in Burlington?

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,400 a year and the 25th percentile is $26,060, a fair guide to starting pay.

What is the food servers, nonrestaurant take-home pay in Burlington?

About $26,063 a year ($2,172 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $30,610.

Do food servers, nonrestaurant earn more in Burlington than elsewhere?

The average here is 15% less than the U.S. average for this job ($36,140).

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 35-3041; area Burlington, NC (15500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.1%.
  • 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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