Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Waiters and Waitresses actually take home in North Carolina?
4.5% flat rate — 18.0% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Waiters and Waitresses earning $32,150 in North Carolina (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $32,150 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$1,874 | 5.8% |
| North Carolina State Income Tax | -$1,446 | 4.5% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$1,993 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$466 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$5,780 | 18.0% |
| Take-Home Pay | $26,369 | 82.0% |
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) | $17,140 | -$2,336 | $14,803 | 13.6% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $20,800 | -$3,147 | $17,652 | 15.1% |
| Median (P50) | $32,150 | -$5,780 | $26,369 | 18.0% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $48,550 | -$9,740 | $38,809 | 20.1% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $62,670 | -$13,242 | $49,427 | 21.1% |
After federal income tax ($1,874), state tax ($1,446), and FICA ($2,459), a Waiters and Waitresses in North Carolina takes home $26,369 per year — or $2,197 per month. The effective tax rate of 18.0% is relatively low compared to the national range.
A Waiters and Waitresses in North Carolina faces an effective total tax rate of only 18.0%, keeping 82.0% of every gross dollar. That leaves $26,370 net out of $32,150 gross — a favorable outcome compared to states with combined rates above 30%.
North Carolina applies a flat state income tax — every dollar of wage income is taxed at the same rate. For this Waiters and Waitresses salary that contributes $1,447 to the 4.5% effective state-tax burden.
Federal tax on this Waiters and Waitresses salary is $1,874 (32%), but combined state ($1,447, 25%) + FICA ($2,459, 43%) make up the other 68% of the bill.
A Waiters and Waitresses earning this gross in a no-income-tax state (e.g., Texas, Florida) would take home approximately $27,817 — only $1,447 (5.5%) more than in North Carolina.
North Carolina ranks #28 of 51 states for Waiters and Waitresses after-tax pay — lower half of the national distribution. Either gross wages trail the national median, state tax is elevated, or both.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $26,370 net/year works out to $2,197/month or $1,014/bi-weekly for this Waiters and Waitresses in North Carolina — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
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 #28 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 $32,150 will take home approximately $26,369 per year after federal income tax ($1,874), state income tax ($1,446), and FICA ($2,459). That is $2,197 per month or $1,014 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Waiters and Waitresses in North Carolina is 18.0%, broken down as: federal income tax 5.8%, 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 $32,150, the state income tax amounts to $1,446 per year, which is an effective state rate of 4.5%.
After all taxes, a Waiters and Waitresses in North Carolina takes home approximately $2,197 per month, or about $12.68 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 2025 BLS median salary of $32,150 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 — $26,369/yr — does not include local taxes, pre-tax deductions (401k, HSA), or tax credits.
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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