Waiters and Waitresses Salary in Wilmington, NC

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

Median annual salary $21,540 -36.2% vs national
Median hourly $10.36
10th percentile $17,240
90th percentile $47,910
Employed locally 5,050
National median $33,760

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Waiters and Waitresses
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Wilmington, NC
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $17,240
    25th
    $18,220
    50th (median)
    $21,540
    75th
    $37,130
    90th
    $47,910

    Wilmington economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $73,687 2023 • Census ACS
    Waiters and Waitresses salary vs area income 29% Median Waiters and Waitresses salary is 71% 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 Wilmington, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $28,910
    Cooks, Fast Food $26,740
    Cooks, Restaurant $35,170
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $44,780
    Bartenders $29,650
    Food Preparation Workers $31,750

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Wilmington, NC is $10.36, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $28.52 or more per hour.

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

    The median Waiters and Waitresses salary in Wilmington, NC is 36.2% 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 Wilmington?

    Entry-level Waiters and Waitresses (10th percentile) earn around $17,240 per year in Wilmington, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $18,220.