Waiters and Waitresses salary in Pennsylvania
Waiters and Waitresses in Pennsylvania earn a median of $34,690 a year ($16.68 an hour), based on BLS data for 82,300 workers.
Pay ranges from $18,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $61,780 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $35,230. Pennsylvania ranks 25th of 51 states for waiters and waitresses pay. There are 14 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $38,110, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Pennsylvania
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $18,400 | $8.85 |
| 25th percentile | $24,490 | $11.78 |
| Median | $34,690 | $16.68 |
| 75th percentile | $46,790 | $22.49 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $61,780 | $29.70 |
| Average (mean) | $38,110 | $18.32 |
Half of waiters and waitresses earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,890.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,445.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,334.23 |
| Weekly | $667.12 |
| Hourly | $16.68 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in cities in Pennsylvania
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $36,570 | 41,900 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $35,470 | 16,120 |
| State College, PA | $35,280 | 1,350 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $34,630 | 5,310 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $34,260 | 3,920 |
| York-Hanover, PA | $33,750 | 2,340 |
| Lancaster, PA | $32,190 | 3,520 |
| Gettysburg, PA | $31,390 | 660 |
| Reading, PA | $30,760 | 2,060 |
| Lebanon, PA | $30,300 | 690 |
| Chambersburg, PA | $30,030 | 750 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $29,770 | 3,200 |
| Williamsport, PA | $29,320 | 730 |
| Erie, PA | $28,590 | 1,840 |
| Johnstown, PA | $28,280 | 640 |
| Altoona, PA | $27,630 | 880 |
Highest-paying states for waiters and waitresses
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $62,390 |
| Vermont | $59,140 |
| Washington | $56,130 |
| Oregon | $48,410 |
| District of Columbia | $47,850 |
| New York | $47,020 |
| New Jersey | $44,960 |
| Colorado | $44,860 |
| Virginia | $44,760 |
| Arizona | $43,950 |
Related jobs in Pennsylvania
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,570 | $13.74 |
| Bartender | $28,420 | $13.66 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $33,300 | $16.01 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,580 | $17.59 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $43,050 | $20.70 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,540 | $17.57 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,310 | $14.09 |
| Dishwasher | $29,950 | $14.40 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,170 | $14.02 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,840 | $14.83 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,810 | $13.85 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $63,860 | $30.70 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $19,910 | $9.57 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $33,040 | $15.89 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Pennsylvania
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-3031. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiters and waitresses make in Pennsylvania?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in Pennsylvania is $34,690 a year, or $16.68 an hour. Pay ranges from $18,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $61,780 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Pennsylvania?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in Pennsylvania earn at least $61,780 a year. The top 25% earn $46,790 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Pennsylvania?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $18,400 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $24,490 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in Pennsylvania?
About 82,300 waiters and waitresses are employed in Pennsylvania, not counting the self-employed.