Charleston-North Charleston, SC · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Waiter or Waitress Salary in Charleston-North Charleston, SC

In the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metropolitan area, waiters or waitresses earned a median annual wage of $19,800 ($9.52/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $16,200/year and the 90th was $50,400/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and South Carolina tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $17,820 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 101.0 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$19,800$9.52 per hour · $1,650 monthly
10th Percentile$16,200$7.79/hr base
25th Percentile$18,300$8.80/hr base
75th Percentile$32,200$15.48/hr base
90th Percentile$50,400$24.23/hr base

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-Home Pay Explorer

$19,800
$15,000$40,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$19,800
Net 90%
Fed 2%
SC 0%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$17,820After all taxes
Monthly deposit$1,485Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$685Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate10%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$370 / yr
South Carolina state income tax$96 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$1,515 / yr

Waiters and Waitresses Wage Percentiles in Charleston-North Charleston, SC

Official survey estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Full-time calculations assume standard 2,080 annual working hours.

Wage Distribution for Waiters and Waitresses in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (SC)
10th Percentile$7.79/hr$1,350$16,200$14,927
25th Percentile$8.80/hr$1,525$18,300$16,614
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$9.52/hr$1,650$19,800$17,820
75th Percentile$15.48/hr$2,683$32,200$27,710
90th Percentile$24.23/hr$4,200$50,400$41,651

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Charleston-North Charleston, SC

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$19,800 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$85,254Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index101.01% above national average
Individual vs Household Ratio23.2%of area median income

Compare waiters or waitresses salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in South Carolina:

Frequently Asked Questions About Waiters and Waitresses Pay in Charleston-North Charleston, SC

What is the median salary for waiters or waitresses in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?

The official BLS median annual wage for waiters or waitresses in Charleston-North Charleston, SC is $19,800, which equates to approximately $1,650 per month or $9.52 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for waiters or waitresses in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?

The median hourly wage for waiters or waitresses in Charleston-North Charleston, SC is $9.52 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $7.79/hour and one in ten earned more than $24.23/hour.

What is the pay range for waiters or waitresses in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?

BLS wage estimates for waiters or waitresses in Charleston-North Charleston, SC span from $16,200 at the 10th percentile to $18,300 at the 25th, $32,200 at the 75th, and $50,400 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do waiters or waitresses take home after taxes in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?

On a median gross salary of $19,800, an estimated $17,820 lands in net take-home pay per year ($685 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in South Carolina in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $1,980 (an effective rate of 10%).

How much do waiters or waitresses make per month in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?

On the median annual salary of $19,800, gross monthly income is $1,650. After federal, FICA, and South Carolina state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $1,485 per month (or $685 every two weeks).

Is $19,800 a good salary in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?

At $19,800, the median salary for waiters or waitresses is 23.2% of the Charleston-North Charleston, SC median household income ($85,254). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 101.0, making regional consumer goods and services 1% more expensive than the U.S. average.