How much does a food server make in Durham?
$34,500a year
Median yearly pay for food servers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area. That is $16.59 an hour or $2,875 a month.
- Hourly
- $16.59
- Vs. national median
- -2%
- Rank among cities
- 131 of 353
- Jobs in the area
- 740
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $15,540Median: $34,500Highest 10%: $43,950
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $15,540 | $7.47 | |
| 25th | $25,660 | $12.34 | |
| Median | $34,500 | $16.59 | |
| 75th | $38,690 | $18.60 | |
| 90th | $43,950 | $21.13 |
Other cities in North Carolina
Median yearly pay for food servers.
| Goldsboro, NC | $38,980 |
| Asheville, NC | $35,040 |
| Wilmington, NC | $34,810 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $34,710 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $34,620 |
| Charlotte, NC | $33,550 |
| Raleigh, NC | $32,470 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $31,460 |
| Hickory, NC | $31,370 |
| Pinehurst, NC | $30,790 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $29,730 |
| Greensboro, NC | $29,030 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $28,760 |
| Burlington, NC | $28,670 |
| Greenville, NC | $27,370 |
Related jobs in Durham
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $66,090 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $46,150 |
| Cook | $38,970 |
| Bartender | $37,110 |
| Cook | $36,170 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $35,230 |
| Cook | $35,040 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,560 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $34,480 |
| Dishwasher | $33,800 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food server make an hour in Durham?
The median hourly pay in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $16.59 ($34,500 a year).
Do food servers make more in Durham than the national average?
No: $34,500 against $35,360 nationally, 2% less.
How does Durham compare with the rest of North Carolina?
The median in North Carolina is $31,460, so Durham pays 10% more.
Where does Durham rank for food server pay?
131 of 353 metro areas with data.
How much does a food server make starting out in Durham?
The lowest-paid 10% make $15,540 or less a year; the top 10% make $43,950 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.