Waiters and Waitresses pay range in Winston-Salem
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $16,770 a year or less, while the top 10% make $58,510 or more. The middle half of waiters and waitresses in Winston-Salem earn between $18,490 and $46,660.
- $17K10th
- $18K25th
- $30KMedian
- $47K75th
- $59K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $34,790 | $2,899 | $16.73 |
| Median | $29,550 | $2,462 | $14.21 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $18,490 | $1,541 | $8.89 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $46,660 | $3,888 | $22.43 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Waiters and Waitresses pay in Winston-Salem vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Waiters and waitresses in Winston-Salem earn 8% less than the North Carolina average ($37,850) and 13% less than the U.S. average ($40,060). At the median the gap is -16% against the U.S. median of $35,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winston-Salem | $34,790 | $29,550 | $16,770 | $58,510 | 3,940 |
| 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 Winston-Salem
On the average salary of $34,790, a single filer in Winston-Salem takes home about $29,254 a year, or $2,438 a month and $1,125 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 Winston-Salem a good place for waiters and waitresses? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Winston-Salem area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.0), so the average $34,790 buys what about $37,798 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Winston-Salem ($46,380). A typical home costs $283,871, or 8.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other North Carolina cities
Winston-Salem ranks 9th 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 Winston-Salem: questions
How much do waiters and waitresses make an hour in Winston-Salem?
$16.73 an hour on average, and $14.21 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level waiters and waitresses salary in Winston-Salem?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $16,770 a year and the 25th percentile is $18,490, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the waiters and waitresses take-home pay in Winston-Salem?
About $29,254 a year ($2,438 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $34,790.
Do waiters and waitresses earn more in Winston-Salem than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% 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 Winston-Salem, NC (49180). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.2%.
- 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 0.99, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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