Waiter and Waitress Salary in Philadelphia, PA
Waiters and Waitresses in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area earn a median $36,570 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,441 take-home, or $2,537 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Philadelphia, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,208
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,267
- Medicare (1.45%)$530
- Pennsylvania income tax$1,123
- Take-home pay$30,441
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.07% state
Living in Philadelphia? City residents also pay Philadelphia’s Resident Wage Tax — about $1,368 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $29,074 ($2,423 a month). Choose “Philadelphia” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro spans Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland. 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 Philadelphia, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,900 | $10.53 | $18,972 | $1,581 |
| 25th percentile | $29,440 | $14.15 | $24,931 | $2,078 |
| Median (50th) | $36,570 | $17.58 | $30,441 | $2,537 |
| 75th percentile | $47,850 | $23.00 | $39,158 | $3,263 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $65,340 | $31.41 | $52,675 | $4,390 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,570 buys in Philadelphia, PA
Prices in Philadelphia, PA are 2.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.13× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $30,441 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,683 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 Philadelphia, PA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.99).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Philadelphia, PA ranks #71 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 |
| 71 | Philadelphia, PA | $36,570 | $30,441 | $29,683 |
*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
- Harrisburg, PA — $34,260
- Allentown, PA — $34,630
- Lancaster, PA — $32,190
- Scranton, PA — $29,770
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Philadelphia, PA?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area is $36,570 a year, or about $17.58 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,440 and $47,850.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Philadelphia, PA?
On the median $36,570 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $30,441 a year ($2,537 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,123 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Philadelphia, PA a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 2.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,683 would in a typical U.S. city. Philadelphia, PA ranks #71 of 148 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Philadelphia, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Philadelphia, PA is $1,520 a month ($1,810 for two bedrooms) — 60% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Philadelphia, PA
- Chef and Head Cook — $65,680
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $46,580
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $38,870
- Cooks, Restaurant — $38,270
- Bartender — $36,040
- Food Preparation Worker — $34,560
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $33,300
- Dishwasher — $33,270
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $32,220
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $32,220
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $32,220
- Cooks, Fast Food — $32,220