Waiter and Waitress Salary in Allentown, PA
Waiters and Waitresses in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metro area earn a median $34,630 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $28,942 take-home, or $2,412 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Allentown, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,976
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,147
- Medicare (1.45%)$502
- Pennsylvania income tax$1,063
- Take-home pay$28,942
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.07% state
The Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metro spans Pennsylvania, New Jersey. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Allentown, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $18,100 | $8.70 | $15,960 | $1,330 |
| 25th percentile | $27,360 | $13.15 | $23,301 | $1,942 |
| Median (50th) | $34,630 | $16.65 | $28,942 | $2,412 |
| 75th percentile | $47,400 | $22.79 | $38,811 | $3,234 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,720 | $30.63 | $51,423 | $4,285 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $34,630 buys in Allentown, PA
Prices in Allentown, PA are 0.0% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.06× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $28,942 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,951 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 Allentown, PA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.96).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Allentown, PA ranks #77 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 |
| 77 | Allentown, PA | $34,630 | $28,942 | $28,951 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 148 metros →
About the job: waiters and waitresses
Take orders and serve food and beverages to patrons at tables in dining establishment.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.0% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Waiter and Waitress salaries elsewhere in Pennsylvania
- Pittsburgh, PA — $35,470
- Philadelphia, PA — $36,570
- Harrisburg, PA — $34,260
- Lancaster, PA — $32,190
- Scranton, PA — $29,770
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Allentown, PA?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metro area is $34,630 a year, or about $16.65 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $27,360 and $47,400.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Allentown, PA?
On the median $34,630 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $28,942 a year ($2,412 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,063 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Allentown, PA a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 0.0% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,951 would in a typical U.S. city. Allentown, PA ranks #77 of 148 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Allentown, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Allentown, PA is $1,365 a month ($1,667 for two bedrooms) — 57% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Allentown, PA
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,120
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,090