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Waiters and Waitresses salary in Winston-Salem, NC

Waiters and Waitresses in the Winston-Salem, NC metropolitan area earn a median of $29,550 a year, an average of $34,790. About 3,940 people work in this occupation there. Figures are from the May 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS).

Waiters and Waitresses pay at a glance

Annual median wage
$29,550
Half earn more, half earn less
Annual mean wage
$34,790
Pulled up by top earners
10th percentile
$16,770
Bottom of the range
90th percentile
$58,510
Top of the range
People employed
3,940
In Winston-Salem metro area
Rent share of median wage
41.9%
Median rent ÷ median wage

What this wage buys in Winston-Salem

Rent from the ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, compared with the wage above

Median gross rent
$1,033
per month, in Winston-Salem, NC
Income needed for median rent
$41,300
Keeps rent at 30% of gross pay
Median waiters and waitresses wage
$29,550
28.5% below income needed for median rent
Rent as share of this wage
41.9%
12 months rent ÷ median wage
City median household income
$57,673
All households, not one occupation

Occupations are not paid the same everywhere, and this page does not explain why. It reports what the survey measured for the Winston-Salem area. Read the Winston-Salem, NC cost of living page for rent, income and the price level, or the methodology for how the numbers are compiled.

Waiters and Waitresses pay in other cities

Median annual wage, same occupation, same survey

Chesapeake, VA
+32.0%
Median $39,020
Mean $44,510
Employed 13,100
Laredo, TX
-25.5%
Median $22,020
Mean $27,540
Employed 1,500
St. Petersburg, FL
+25.4%
Median $37,070
Mean $44,090
Employed 25,280
Lubbock, TX
-23.7%
Median $22,560
Mean $27,820
Employed 3,040
Boise City, ID
+21.3%
Median $35,830
Mean $37,480
Employed 4,890
Fort Wayne, IN
-3.0%
Median $28,650
Mean $30,730
Employed 3,150
Arlington, VA
+55.8%
Median $46,040
Mean $51,820
Employed 46,160
Norfolk, VA
+32.0%
Median $39,020
Mean $44,510
Employed 13,100

See waiters and waitresses pay in every covered city.

Take-home pay calculator

Estimate your net pay after federal, state, and FICA taxes. Adjust filing status and allowances for your situation.

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Gross annual income $29,550 / year
$29,550
Federal income tax 2024 brackets, Single filing
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State income tax North Carolina (NC)
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FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.65% up to wage base
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Pre-tax deductions 401(k), HSA, etc.
$0
Take-home pay (annual) After all taxes
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Take-home per paycheck Monthly
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Effective tax rate Total tax ÷ gross income
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Estimates use 2024 federal tax brackets, FICA rates (6.2% SS up to $168,600, 1.45% Medicare + 0.9% >$200k), and state rates from Tax Foundation. Does not include local taxes, AMT, or tax credits. Consult a tax professional for actual liability.

Definitions used on this page

Annual median wage
The wage that half of the people in this occupation earn more than and half earn less than, for one year of work.
Annual mean wage
The average of all reported wages. It is higher than the median when a few very high earners pull it up.
Percentiles
The 10th percentile is the wage below which 10% of workers fall; the 90th is the wage above which only 10% rise. The gap between them shows how wide the pay range is.
Employment
The estimated number of jobs in this occupation in the metropolitan area, not the number of residents who hold it.

Sources and limits

Wages describe the metropolitan area, while rent and income describe the city boundaries. The two areas do not cover exactly the same ground. Wages are also averaged across a year and across every industry, so a specific employer can differ widely from the median shown here.