How much does a food server make in Raleigh?
$32,470a year
Median yearly pay for food servers in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area. That is $15.61 an hour or $2,706 a month.
- Hourly
- $15.61
- Vs. national median
- -8%
- Rank among cities
- 195 of 353
- Jobs in the area
- 1,280
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $25,660Median: $32,470Highest 10%: $43,550
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $25,660 | $12.34 | |
| 25th | $29,670 | $14.26 | |
| Median | $32,470 | $15.61 | |
| 75th | $37,760 | $18.15 | |
| 90th | $43,550 | $20.94 |
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 |
| Durham, NC | $34,500 |
| Charlotte, NC | $33,550 |
| 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 Raleigh
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $61,190 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $46,020 |
| Cook | $37,460 |
| Cook | $36,280 |
| Bartender | $36,120 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $34,860 |
| Dishwasher | $31,300 |
| Cook | $31,200 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $29,890 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $29,470 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food server make an hour in Raleigh?
The median hourly pay in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area is $15.61 ($32,470 a year).
Do food servers make more in Raleigh than the national average?
No: $32,470 against $35,360 nationally, 8% less.
How does Raleigh compare with the rest of North Carolina?
The median in North Carolina is $31,460, so Raleigh pays 3% more.
Where does Raleigh rank for food server pay?
195 of 353 metro areas with data.
How much does a food server make starting out in Raleigh?
The lowest-paid 10% make $25,660 or less a year; the top 10% make $43,550 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.