Waiters and Waitresses Salary in Burlington, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Burlington, NC

Median annual salary $23,420 -30.6% vs national
Median hourly $11.26
10th percentile $16,800
90th percentile $49,040
Employed locally 1,190
National median $33,760

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Waiters and Waitresses
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Burlington, NC
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $16,800
    25th
    $18,080
    50th (median)
    $23,420
    75th
    $35,880
    90th
    $49,040

    Burlington economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $64,445 2023 • Census ACS
    Waiters and Waitresses salary vs area income 36% Median Waiters and Waitresses salary is 64% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Waiters and Waitresses

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $71,920
    Burlington-South Burlington, VT $66,350
    Vermont $60,910
    Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area $60,840
    Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area $53,460
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $48,760

    Nearby metros — Waiters and Waitresses salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Manchester-Nashua, NH $38,120
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $37,360
    Trenton-Princeton, NJ $37,360
    Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $36,910
    Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $36,590
    Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $36,290

    Related occupations in Burlington, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Cooks, Fast Food$26,660
    Fast Food and Counter Workers$28,110
    Cooks, Restaurant$34,110
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$39,100
    Food Preparation Workers$28,380
    Dishwashers$30,910

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Waiters and Waitresses make per hour in Burlington?

    The median hourly wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Burlington, NC is $11.26, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $28.33 or more per hour.

    Is Burlington above or below average for Waiters and Waitresses salaries?

    The median Waiters and Waitresses salary in Burlington, NC is 30.6% below the national median of $33,760. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Waiters and Waitresses in Burlington?

    Entry-level Waiters and Waitresses (10th percentile) earn around $16,800 per year in Burlington, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $18,080.