Waiters and Waitresses pay range in Harrisburg
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $18,040 a year or less, while the top 10% make $62,800 or more. The middle half of waiters and waitresses in Harrisburg earn between $24,070 and $46,770.
- $18K10th
- $24K25th
- $34KMedian
- $47K75th
- $63K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $37,830 | $3,152 | $18.19 |
| Median | $34,260 | $2,855 | $16.47 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $24,070 | $2,006 | $11.57 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $46,770 | $3,898 | $22.49 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Waiters and Waitresses pay in Harrisburg vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Waiters and waitresses in Harrisburg earn about the same as the Pennsylvania average ($38,110) and 6% less than the U.S. average ($40,060). At the median the gap is -3% against the U.S. median of $35,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisburg | $37,830 | $34,260 | $18,040 | $62,800 | 3,920 |
| Pennsylvania | $38,110 | $34,690 | $18,400 | $61,780 | 82,300 |
| United States | $40,060 | $35,230 | $18,100 | $64,720 | 2,270,910 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Waiters and Waitresses salary after taxes in Harrisburg
On the average salary of $37,830, a single filer in Harrisburg takes home about $31,415 a year, or $2,618 a month and $1,208 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Harrisburg a good place for waiters and waitresses? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Harrisburg area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.7), so the average $37,830 buys what about $38,348 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Harrisburg ($49,610). A typical home costs $312,126, or 8.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Harrisburg ranks 4th of 16 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job; Philadelphia pays the most ($41,390).
- Philadelphia$41,390
- Pittsburgh$39,630
- Allentown$38,400
- Harrisburg$37,830
- State College$37,170
- Lancaster$37,080
- York$37,000
- Lebanon$36,240
- Reading$36,110
- Gettysburg$35,360
Highest-paying cities for waiters and waitresses
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($87,210).
- Kahului, HI$87,210
- Seattle, WA$62,940
- Honolulu, HI$61,880
- Bremerton, WA$61,770
- Burlington, VT$61,070
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Waiters and Waitresses salary in Harrisburg: questions
How much do waiters and waitresses make an hour in Harrisburg?
$18.19 an hour on average, and $16.47 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level waiters and waitresses salary in Harrisburg?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $18,040 a year and the 25th percentile is $24,070, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the waiters and waitresses take-home pay in Harrisburg?
About $31,415 a year ($2,618 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $37,830. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do waiters and waitresses earn more in Harrisburg than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% less than the U.S. average for this job ($40,060).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-3031; area Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA (25420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.2%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.80, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.80).
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