Waiters and Waitresses pay range in Philadelphia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,900 a year or less, while the top 10% make $65,340 or more. The middle half of waiters and waitresses in Philadelphia earn between $29,440 and $47,850.
- $22K10th
- $29K25th
- $37KMedian
- $48K75th
- $65K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $41,390 | $3,449 | $19.90 |
| Median | $36,570 | $3,048 | $17.58 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $29,440 | $2,453 | $14.15 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $47,850 | $3,988 | $23.00 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Waiters and Waitresses pay in Philadelphia vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Waiters and waitresses in Philadelphia earn 9% more than the Pennsylvania average ($38,110) and 3% more than the U.S. average ($40,060). At the median the gap is +4% against the U.S. median of $35,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | $41,390 | $36,570 | $21,900 | $65,340 | 41,900 |
| 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 Philadelphia
On the average salary of $41,390, a single filer in Philadelphia takes home about $34,166 a year, or $2,847 a month and $1,314 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NJ | $34,698 | $2,891 |
| Working in PA | $34,166 | $2,847 |
| Working in DE | $33,707 | $2,809 |
| Working in MD | $33,682 | $2,807 |
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 Philadelphia a good place for waiters and waitresses? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Philadelphia area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 102.6), so the average $41,390 buys what about $40,359 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Philadelphia ($54,310). A typical home costs $390,463, or 9.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Philadelphia ranks 1st of 16 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- 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 Philadelphia: questions
How much do waiters and waitresses make an hour in Philadelphia?
$19.90 an hour on average, and $17.58 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level waiters and waitresses salary in Philadelphia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,900 a year and the 25th percentile is $29,440, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the waiters and waitresses take-home pay in Philadelphia?
About $34,166 a year ($2,847 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $41,390. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do waiters and waitresses earn more in Philadelphia than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% more 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD (37980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.6%.
- 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 0.99, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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