Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Waiter or Waitress Salary in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC

In the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC metropolitan area, waiters or waitresses earned a median annual wage of $19,200 ($9.23/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $15,800/year and the 90th was $49,000/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and South Carolina tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $17,338 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 98.0 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$19,200$9.23 per hour · $1,600 monthly
10th Percentile$15,800$7.60/hr base
25th Percentile$17,800$8.56/hr base
75th Percentile$31,300$15.05/hr base
90th Percentile$49,000$23.56/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

$19,200
$15,000$40,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$19,200
Net 90%
Fed 2%
SC 0%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$17,338After all taxes
Monthly deposit$1,445Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$667Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate9.7%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$310 / yr
South Carolina state income tax$84 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$1,469 / yr

Waiters and Waitresses Wage Percentiles in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, 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 Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (SC)
10th Percentile$7.60/hr$1,317$15,800$14,575
25th Percentile$8.56/hr$1,483$17,800$16,213
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$9.23/hr$1,600$19,200$17,338
75th Percentile$15.05/hr$2,608$31,300$27,005
90th Percentile$23.56/hr$4,083$49,000$40,618

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$19,200 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$83,304Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index98.02% below national average
Individual vs Household Ratio23%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 Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC

What is the median salary for waiters or waitresses in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC?

The official BLS median annual wage for waiters or waitresses in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC is $19,200, which equates to approximately $1,600 per month or $9.23 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for waiters or waitresses in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC?

The median hourly wage for waiters or waitresses in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC is $9.23 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $7.60/hour and one in ten earned more than $23.56/hour.

What is the pay range for waiters or waitresses in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC?

BLS wage estimates for waiters or waitresses in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC span from $15,800 at the 10th percentile to $17,800 at the 25th, $31,300 at the 75th, and $49,000 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do waiters or waitresses take home after taxes in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC?

On a median gross salary of $19,200, an estimated $17,338 lands in net take-home pay per year ($667 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in South Carolina in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $1,862 (an effective rate of 9.7%).

How much do waiters or waitresses make per month in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC?

On the median annual salary of $19,200, gross monthly income is $1,600. After federal, FICA, and South Carolina state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $1,445 per month (or $667 every two weeks).

Is $19,200 a good salary in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC?

At $19,200, the median salary for waiters or waitresses is 23% of the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC median household income ($83,304). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 98.0, making regional consumer goods and services 2% cheaper than the U.S. average.