Waiter and Waitress Salary in Pittsburgh, PA
Waiters and Waitresses in the Pittsburgh, PA metro area earn a median $35,470 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,591 take-home, or $2,466 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Pittsburgh, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,076
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,199
- Medicare (1.45%)$514
- Pennsylvania income tax$1,089
- Take-home pay$29,591
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.07% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Pittsburgh, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,440 | $10.31 | $18,608 | $1,551 |
| 25th percentile | $28,020 | $13.47 | $23,824 | $1,985 |
| Median (50th) | $35,470 | $17.05 | $29,591 | $2,466 |
| 75th percentile | $47,540 | $22.86 | $38,919 | $3,243 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $61,480 | $29.56 | $49,692 | $4,141 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,470 buys in Pittsburgh, PA
Prices in Pittsburgh, PA are 5.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 28% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $29,591 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,257 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 Pittsburgh, PA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.99).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Pittsburgh, PA ranks #120 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 |
| 120 | Pittsburgh, PA | $35,470 | $29,591 | $31,257 |
*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
- 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
- Lancaster, PA — $32,190
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Pittsburgh, PA?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Pittsburgh, PA metro area is $35,470 a year, or about $17.05 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,020 and $47,540.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Pittsburgh, PA?
On the median $35,470 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $29,591 a year ($2,466 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,089 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Pittsburgh, PA a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 5.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,257 would in a typical U.S. city. Pittsburgh, PA ranks #120 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Pittsburgh, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Pittsburgh, PA is $1,058 a month ($1,281 for two bedrooms) — 43% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Pittsburgh, PA
- Chef and Head Cook — $66,320
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $40,530
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,130
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $36,100
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $34,630
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $30,260
- Food Preparation Worker — $30,120
- Dishwasher — $30,000
- Bartender — $29,750
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $28,540
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,250
- Cooks, Fast Food — $26,620