Waiters and Waitresses pay range in Ponce
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,840 a year or less, while the top 10% make $37,140 or more. The middle half of waiters and waitresses in Ponce earn between $21,840 and $35,550.
- $22K10th
- $22K25th
- $22KMedian
- $36K75th
- $37K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $28,140 | $2,345 | $13.53 |
| Median | $22,260 | $1,855 | $10.70 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $21,840 | $1,820 | $10.50 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $35,550 | $2,962 | $17.09 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Waiters and Waitresses pay in Ponce vs. Puerto Rico and the U.S.
Waiters and waitresses in Ponce earn 5% less than the Puerto Rico average ($29,690) and 30% less than the U.S. average ($40,060). At the median the gap is -37% against the U.S. median of $35,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ponce | $28,140 | $22,260 | $21,840 | $37,140 | 730 |
| Puerto Rico | $29,690 | $22,790 | $21,840 | $44,140 | 12,260 |
| 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.
Is Ponce a good place for waiters and waitresses? Pay vs. cost of living
This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Ponce ($26,940). A typical home costs $103,100, or 3.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other Puerto Rico cities
Ponce ranks 2nd of 6 Puerto Rico metro areas for this job; San Juan pays the most ($30,370).
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 Ponce: questions
How much do waiters and waitresses make an hour in Ponce?
$13.53 an hour on average, and $10.70 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level waiters and waitresses salary in Ponce?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,840 a year and the 25th percentile is $21,840, a fair guide to starting pay.
Do waiters and waitresses earn more in Ponce than elsewhere?
The average here is 30% 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 Ponce, PR (38660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.0%.
- 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: Census median home value (Zillow does not cover this metro). 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.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.78, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.78).
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