Waiter and Waitress Salary in Syracuse, NY
Waiters and Waitresses in the Syracuse, NY metro area earn a median $47,640 a year — 35% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $38,483 take-home, or $3,207 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Syracuse, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,537
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,954
- Medicare (1.45%)$691
- New York income tax$1,976
- Take-home pay$38,483
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.40% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Syracuse, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,240 | $15.50 | $26,941 | $2,245 |
| 25th percentile | $34,150 | $16.42 | $28,372 | $2,364 |
| Median (50th) | $47,640 | $22.90 | $38,483 | $3,207 |
| 75th percentile | $63,050 | $30.31 | $50,033 | $4,169 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $79,750 | $38.34 | $61,225 | $5,102 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $47,640 buys in Syracuse, NY
Prices in Syracuse, NY are 4.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 19% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $38,483 take-home pay has the buying power of $40,195 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 less concentrated in Syracuse, NY than nationally (location quotient 0.78), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Syracuse, NY ranks #5 of 148 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 | Seattle, WA | $57,280 | $48,204 | $43,375 |
| 3 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $60,250 | $47,542 | $42,846 |
| 4 | Spokane, WA | $48,560 | $41,198 | $41,056 |
| 5 | Syracuse, NY | $47,640 | $38,483 | $40,195 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $54,780 | $42,232 | $40,060 |
| 7 | Albany, NY | $48,980 | $39,488 | $39,660 |
| 8 | Buffalo, NY | $46,580 | $37,689 | $39,323 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 148 metros →
Waiter and Waitress salaries elsewhere in New York
- Albany, NY — $48,980
- Buffalo, NY — $46,580
- Rochester, NY — $45,310
- Kiryas Joel, NY — $46,950
- New York, NY — $47,610
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Syracuse, NY?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Syracuse, NY metro area is $47,640 a year, or about $22.90 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,150 and $63,050.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Syracuse, NY?
On the median $47,640 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $38,483 a year ($3,207 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,976 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is Syracuse, NY a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 35% above the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 4.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $40,195 would in a typical U.S. city. Syracuse, NY ranks #5 of 148 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Syracuse, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Syracuse, NY is $1,123 a month ($1,392 for two bedrooms) — 35% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Syracuse, NY
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $33,940