Waiters and Waitresses pay range in State College
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $17,150 a year or less, while the top 10% make $59,750 or more. The middle half of waiters and waitresses in State College earn between $24,070 and $46,250.
- $17K10th
- $24K25th
- $35KMedian
- $46K75th
- $60K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $37,170 | $3,098 | $17.87 |
| Median | $35,280 | $2,940 | $16.96 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $24,070 | $2,006 | $11.57 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $46,250 | $3,854 | $22.24 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Waiters and Waitresses pay in State College vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Waiters and waitresses in State College earn about the same as the Pennsylvania average ($38,110) and 7% less than the U.S. average ($40,060). At the median the gap is +0% against the U.S. median of $35,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State College | $37,170 | $35,280 | $17,150 | $59,750 | 1,350 |
| 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 State College
On the average salary of $37,170, a single filer in State College takes home about $30,905 a year, or $2,575 a month and $1,189 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 State College a good place for waiters and waitresses? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the State College area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.8), so the average $37,170 buys what about $38,414 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in State College ($49,220). A typical home costs $353,680, or 9.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other Pennsylvania cities
State College ranks 5th 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 State College: questions
How much do waiters and waitresses make an hour in State College?
$17.87 an hour on average, and $16.96 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level waiters and waitresses salary in State College?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $17,150 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 State College?
About $30,905 a year ($2,575 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $37,170. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do waiters and waitresses earn more in State College than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% 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 State College, PA (44300). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.3%.
- 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 1.34, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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