Waiters and Waitresses Salary
In West Virginia, waiters and waitresses earn $35,380 at the median, or about $17.01 an hour. The range runs from $20K at the entry level to $61K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.03), which stretches that salary to about $39,739 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,008/month, about 41.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across West Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $35K get you in West Virginia?
About waiters and waitresses
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What this looks like in West Virginia
Waiters and waitresses pay in West Virginia tracks closely to the national median, $35K locally vs. $35K nationwide, a 0% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,008/month, which is 41.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.03 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, West Virginia
Entry-level waiters and waitresses (10th percentile) start around $20K. Mid-career wages sit at $35K. Top earners bring in $61K or more, a $40K spread from bottom to top.
Waiters and Waitresses salary by metro in West Virginia
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $37K | +4% | 1,190 |
| Weirton-Steubenville | $36K | +1% | 500 |
| Morgantown | $35K | +0% | 1,040 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna | $35K | -0% | 610 |
| Beckley | $34K | -5% | 650 |
| Wheeling | $31K | -13% | 880 |
| Huntington-Ashland | $31K | -13% | 1,720 |
Compare to other states
Track waiters and waitresses salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when West Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a waiters and waitress afford a 2BR apartment alone in West Virginia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $35K, rent takes 41.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,008/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for waiters and waitresses in West Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new waiters and waitresses typically earn — is $20K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,214/month. At HUD’s $1,008/month FMR, rent would take 83% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is waiters and waitress a high-paying job in West Virginia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $35K locally vs. $35K nationally, a 0% difference.
How does West Virginia compare to the national average for waiters and waitresses?
West Virginia pays $35K median vs. the U.S. average of $35K — that’s +0%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.03), the purchasing-power equivalent is $40K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do waiters and waitresses make in West Virginia?
The median is $35,380 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $20,230, and experienced waiters and waitresses can clear $60,560. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $35K enough to live in West Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,449/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,008/month, which eats 41.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a waiters and waitresses salary go in West Virginia?
West Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 89.03 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median waiters and waitresses salary is worth about $39,739 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do waiters and waitresses get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.