Salaries › Waiter / Waitress › Pennsylvania
Waiter / Waitress Salary in Pennsylvania (2026)
$16.68 per hour · take-home ≈ $28,988/year ($2,416/month) for a single filer
Waiter / Waitress pay range in Pennsylvania
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $18,400 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $24,490 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $34,690 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $46,790 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $61,780 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 82,300 Waiter / Waitress jobs in Pennsylvania (occupation code 35-3031, “Waiters and Waitresses”).
Gross vs. take-home in Pennsylvania
A median Waiter / Waitress salary of $34,690 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Pennsylvania state income tax, a single filer keeps about $28,988 — an effective tax rate of 16.4%.
| Gross (median) | $34,690 |
| Federal income tax | −$1,983 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,654 |
| Pennsylvania state income tax | −$1,065 |
| Take-home (annual) | $28,988 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,416 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Pennsylvania paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Waiter / Waitress make in Pennsylvania?
- The median Waiter / Waitress salary in Pennsylvania is $34,690 per year ($16.68 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $24,490 and $46,790.
- What is the take-home pay for a Waiter / Waitress in Pennsylvania?
- On the median salary of $34,690, a single filer in Pennsylvania takes home about $28,988 per year ($2,416 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 16.4%.
- How many Waiter / Waitress jobs are there in Pennsylvania?
- BLS counts 82,300 Waiter / Waitress jobs in Pennsylvania in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Waiter / Waitresss
Other salaries in Pennsylvania
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified Pennsylvania state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for Pennsylvania.