Waiter and Waitress Salary in Harrisburg, PA
Waiters and Waitresses in the Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA metro area earn a median $34,260 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $28,656 take-home, or $2,388 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Harrisburg, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,931
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,124
- Medicare (1.45%)$497
- Pennsylvania income tax$1,052
- Take-home pay$28,656
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.07% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Harrisburg, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $18,040 | $8.67 | $15,912 | $1,326 |
| 25th percentile | $24,070 | $11.57 | $20,693 | $1,724 |
| Median (50th) | $34,260 | $16.47 | $28,656 | $2,388 |
| 75th percentile | $46,770 | $22.49 | $38,324 | $3,194 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,800 | $30.19 | $50,712 | $4,226 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $34,260 buys in Harrisburg, PA
Prices in Harrisburg, PA are 1.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 4% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $28,656 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,048 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 Harrisburg, PA than nationally (location quotient 0.80), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Harrisburg, PA ranks #76 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 |
| 76 | Harrisburg, PA | $34,260 | $28,656 | $29,048 |
*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
- Allentown, PA — $34,630
- Lancaster, PA — $32,190
- Scranton, PA — $29,770
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Harrisburg, PA?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA metro area is $34,260 a year, or about $16.47 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $24,070 and $46,770.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Harrisburg, PA?
On the median $34,260 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $28,656 a year ($2,388 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,052 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Harrisburg, PA a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 1.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,048 would in a typical U.S. city. Harrisburg, PA ranks #76 of 148 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Harrisburg, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Harrisburg, PA is $1,212 a month ($1,493 for two bedrooms) — 51% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Harrisburg, PA
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,520
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,070