Waiter and Waitress Salary in Lancaster, PA
Waiters and Waitresses in the Lancaster, PA metro area earn a median $32,190 a year — 9% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $27,056 take-home, or $2,255 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Lancaster, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,683
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,996
- Medicare (1.45%)$467
- Pennsylvania income tax$988
- Take-home pay$27,056
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.07% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Lancaster, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $17,820 | $8.57 | $15,738 | $1,311 |
| 25th percentile | $26,090 | $12.54 | $22,294 | $1,858 |
| Median (50th) | $32,190 | $15.48 | $27,056 | $2,255 |
| 75th percentile | $46,260 | $22.24 | $37,930 | $3,161 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,100 | $29.86 | $50,171 | $4,181 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $32,190 buys in Lancaster, PA
Prices in Lancaster, PA are 1.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 6% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $27,056 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,536 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 Lancaster, PA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.95).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Lancaster, PA ranks #211 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 |
| 211 | Lancaster, PA | $32,190 | $27,056 | $27,536 |
*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 Pennsylvania
- Pittsburgh, PA — $35,470
- State College, PA — $35,280
- Philadelphia, PA — $36,570
- York, PA — $33,750
- Harrisburg, PA — $34,260
- Allentown, PA — $34,630
- Johnstown, PA — $28,280
- Gettysburg, PA — $31,390
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Lancaster, PA?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Lancaster, PA metro area is $32,190 a year, or about $15.48 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $26,090 and $46,260.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Lancaster, PA?
On the median $32,190 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $27,056 a year ($2,255 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $988 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Lancaster, PA a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 9% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 1.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,536 would in a typical U.S. city. Lancaster, PA ranks #211 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Lancaster, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Lancaster, PA is $1,220 a month ($1,526 for two bedrooms) — 54% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Lancaster, PA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $43,250
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $37,040
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,500
- Food Preparation Worker — $31,580
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $30,660
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $29,520
- Dishwasher — $29,140
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,580
- Bartender — $28,280
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $28,120
- Cooks, Fast Food — $27,260