How much does a Waiters and Waitresses actually take home in North Carolina?
4.5% flat rate — 15.2% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2024 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-04-06
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Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Waiters and Waitresses earning $21,060 in North Carolina (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $21,060 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$646 | 3.1% |
| North Carolina State Income Tax | -$947 | 4.5% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$1,305 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$305 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$3,204 | 15.2% |
| Take-Home Pay | $17,855 | 84.8% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Waiters and Waitresses in North Carolina.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $17,200 | -$2,349 | $14,850 | 13.7% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $18,070 | -$2,542 | $15,527 | 14.1% |
| Median (P50) | $21,060 | -$3,204 | $17,855 | 15.2% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $36,320 | -$6,787 | $29,532 | 18.7% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $56,200 | -$11,588 | $44,611 | 20.6% |
After federal income tax ($646), state tax ($947), and FICA ($1,611), a Waiters and Waitresses in North Carolina takes home $17,855 per year — or $1,487 per month. The effective tax rate of 15.2% is relatively low compared to the national range.
Where does a Waiters and Waitresses keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
North Carolina ranks #46 out of 51 states for Waiters and Waitresses after-tax take-home pay.
A Waiters and Waitresses in North Carolina earning a median salary of $21,060 will take home approximately $17,855 per year after federal income tax ($646), state income tax ($947), and FICA ($1,611). That is $1,487 per month or $686 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Waiters and Waitresses in North Carolina is 15.2%, broken down as: federal income tax 3.1%, North Carolina state tax 4.5%, and FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.6%. This assumes a single filer with the standard deduction for 2024.
North Carolina has a 4.5% flat rate. On a Waiters and Waitresses's median salary of $21,060, the state income tax amounts to $947 per year, which is an effective state rate of 4.5%.
After all taxes, a Waiters and Waitresses in North Carolina takes home approximately $1,487 per month, or about $8.58 per hour (based on a standard 2,080-hour work year). These figures assume a single filer, standard deduction, and no additional pre-tax deductions.
We start with the 2024 BLS median salary of $21,060 for Waiters and Waitresses in North Carolina, then subtract: federal income tax using 2024 IRS brackets ($14,600 standard deduction), North Carolina state income tax (4.5% flat rate), Social Security (6.2% up to $168,600), and Medicare (1.45%). The result — $17,855/yr — does not include local taxes, pre-tax deductions (401k, HSA), or tax credits.
This estimate assumes a single filer using the 2024 standard deduction ($14,600), with W-2 employment income only. It does not account for: itemized deductions, tax credits (e.g. earned income credit, child tax credit), local/city taxes, pre-tax contributions (401k, HSA, FSA), self-employment tax, or additional income sources. Actual take-home pay may differ. Consult a tax professional for personalized advice.
Our Methodology · Data Sources · Salary: BLS OEWS · Tax: IRS + State DOR