Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Waiter or Waitress Salary in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC

In the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metropolitan area, waiters or waitresses earned a median annual wage of $33,400 ($16.06/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $17,800/year and the 90th was $65,100/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and North Carolina tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $28,193 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 97.9 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$33,400$16.06 per hour · $2,783 monthly
10th Percentile$17,800$8.56/hr base
25th Percentile$21,600$10.38/hr base
75th Percentile$50,400$24.23/hr base
90th Percentile$65,100$31.30/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

$33,400
$15,000$70,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$33,400
Net 84%
Fed 5%
NC 2%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$28,193After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,349Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,084Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate15.6%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$1,828 / yr
North Carolina state income tax$824 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,555 / yr

Waiters and Waitresses Wage Percentiles in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC

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 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (NC)
10th Percentile$8.56/hr$1,483$17,800$16,067
25th Percentile$10.38/hr$1,800$21,600$19,044
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$16.06/hr$2,783$33,400$28,193
75th Percentile$24.23/hr$4,200$50,400$41,174
90th Percentile$31.30/hr$5,425$65,100$52,399

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$33,400 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$82,330Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index97.92.1% below national average
Individual vs Household Ratio40.6%of area median income

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Waiters and Waitresses Pay in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC

What is the median salary for waiters or waitresses in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?

The official BLS median annual wage for waiters or waitresses in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC is $33,400, which equates to approximately $2,783 per month or $16.06 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for waiters or waitresses in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?

The median hourly wage for waiters or waitresses in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC is $16.06 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $8.56/hour and one in ten earned more than $31.30/hour.

What is the pay range for waiters or waitresses in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?

BLS wage estimates for waiters or waitresses in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC span from $17,800 at the 10th percentile to $21,600 at the 25th, $50,400 at the 75th, and $65,100 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do waiters or waitresses take home after taxes in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?

On a median gross salary of $33,400, an estimated $28,193 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,084 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in North Carolina in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $5,207 (an effective rate of 15.6%).

How much do waiters or waitresses make per month in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?

On the median annual salary of $33,400, gross monthly income is $2,783. After federal, FICA, and North Carolina state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,349 per month (or $1,084 every two weeks).

Is $33,400 a good salary in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?

At $33,400, the median salary for waiters or waitresses is 40.6% of the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC median household income ($82,330). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 97.9, making regional consumer goods and services 2.1% cheaper than the U.S. average.