Waiter and Waitress Salary in Ithaca, NY
Waiters and Waitresses in the Ithaca, NY metro area earn a median $46,090 a year — 31% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,321 take-home, or $3,110 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Ithaca, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,351
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,858
- Medicare (1.45%)$668
- New York income tax$1,892
- Take-home pay$37,321
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.40% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Ithaca, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,410 | $15.58 | $27,068 | $2,256 |
| 25th percentile | $34,880 | $16.77 | $28,920 | $2,410 |
| Median (50th) | $46,090 | $22.16 | $37,321 | $3,110 |
| 75th percentile | $62,450 | $30.02 | $49,583 | $4,132 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,100 | $37.55 | $60,153 | $5,013 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $46,090 buys in Ithaca, NY
Prices in Ithaca, NY are 3.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.28× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $37,321 take-home pay has the buying power of $36,123 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Waiter and Waitress jobs are about as common in Ithaca, NY as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.89).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Ithaca, NY ranks #45 of 375 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului, HI | $82,550 | $62,160 | $56,823 |
| 2 | Burlington, VT | $61,620 | $50,061 | $49,591 |
| 3 | Bellingham, WA | $56,700 | $47,738 | $46,198 |
| 4 | Bremerton, WA | $55,270 | $46,589 | $44,116 |
| 5 | Mount Vernon, WA | $53,060 | $44,814 | $43,745 |
| 6 | Yakima, WA | $49,060 | $41,600 | $43,539 |
| 7 | Kennewick, WA | $51,460 | $43,528 | $43,494 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $57,280 | $48,204 | $43,375 |
| 45 | Ithaca, NY | $46,090 | $37,321 | $36,123 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 375 metros →
Waiter and Waitress salaries elsewhere in New York
- Binghamton, NY — $46,600
- Syracuse, NY — $47,640
- Utica, NY — $45,950
- Albany, NY — $48,980
- Elmira, NY — $46,160
- Buffalo, NY — $46,580
- Rochester, NY — $45,310
- Glens Falls, NY — $43,900
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Ithaca, NY?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Ithaca, NY metro area is $46,090 a year, or about $22.16 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,880 and $62,450.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Ithaca, NY?
On the median $46,090 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $37,321 a year ($3,110 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,892 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is Ithaca, NY a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 31% above the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 3.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $36,123 would in a typical U.S. city. Ithaca, NY ranks #45 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Ithaca, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Ithaca, NY is $1,466 a month ($1,753 for two bedrooms) — 47% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Ithaca, NY
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $34,800