Waiters and Waitresses pay range in Charleston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $20,270 a year or less, while the top 10% make $58,540 or more. The middle half of waiters and waitresses in Charleston earn between $27,170 and $48,160.
- $20K10th
- $27K25th
- $37KMedian
- $48K75th
- $59K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $38,270 | $3,189 | $18.40 |
| Median | $36,900 | $3,075 | $17.74 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $27,170 | $2,264 | $13.06 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $48,160 | $4,013 | $23.15 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Waiters and Waitresses pay in Charleston vs. West Virginia and the U.S.
Waiters and waitresses in Charleston earn about the same as the West Virginia average ($38,350) and 4% less than the U.S. average ($40,060). At the median the gap is +5% against the U.S. median of $35,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $38,270 | $36,900 | $20,270 | $58,540 | 1,190 |
| West Virginia | $38,350 | $35,380 | $20,230 | $60,560 | 8,600 |
| 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 $38,270, a single filer in Charleston takes home about $31,941 a year, or $2,662 a month and $1,229 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% 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 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.7), so the average $38,270 buys what about $43,137 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Charleston ($45,830). A typical home costs $148,817, or 3.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other West Virginia cities
Charleston ranks 3rd of 7 West Virginia metro areas for this job; Weirton pays the most ($39,640).
- Weirton$39,640
- Parkersburg$38,360
- Charleston$38,270
- Morgantown$38,170
- Beckley$37,200
- Wheeling$37,040
- Huntington$36,170
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?
$18.40 an hour on average, and $17.74 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level waiters and waitresses salary in Charleston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $20,270 a year and the 25th percentile is $27,170, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the waiters and waitresses take-home pay in Charleston?
About $31,941 a year ($2,662 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $38,270.
Do waiters and waitresses earn more in Charleston than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% 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, WV (16620). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.2%.
- 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 0.79, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.79).
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