Waiters and Waitresses Salary in Hickory, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC

Median annual salary $26,580 -21.3% vs national
Median hourly $12.78
10th percentile $16,390
90th percentile $47,200
Employed locally 2,070
National median $33,760

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Waiters and Waitresses
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Hickory, NC
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $16,390
    25th
    $18,030
    50th (median)
    $26,580
    75th
    $36,620
    90th
    $47,200

    Hickory economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $60,255 2023 • Census ACS
    Waiters and Waitresses salary vs area income 44% Median Waiters and Waitresses salary is 56% 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
    Trenton-Princeton, NJ $37,360
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $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 Hickory, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Cooks, Fast Food $24,180
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $28,400
    Cooks, Restaurant $34,340
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $37,760
    Food Preparation Workers $27,790
    Bartenders $28,040

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Hickory, NC is $12.78, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $27.80 or more per hour.

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

    The median Waiters and Waitresses salary in Hickory, NC is 21.3% 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 Hickory?

    Entry-level Waiters and Waitresses (10th percentile) earn around $16,390 per year in Hickory, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $18,030.