How much does a waiter and waitress make in Philadelphia?
Median yearly pay for waiter and waitresss in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area. That is $17.58 an hour or $3,048 a month.
- Hourly
- $17.58
- Vs. national median
- +4%
- Rank among cities
- 108 of 392
- Jobs in the area
- 41,900
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $21,900 | $10.53 | |
| 25th | $29,440 | $14.15 | |
| Median | $36,570 | $17.58 | |
| 75th | $47,850 | $23.00 | |
| 90th | $65,340 | $31.41 |
Other cities in Pennsylvania
Median yearly pay for waiter and waitresss.
| Pittsburgh, PA | $35,470 |
| State College, PA | $35,280 |
| Allentown, PA | $34,630 |
| Harrisburg, PA | $34,260 |
| York, PA | $33,750 |
| Lancaster, PA | $32,190 |
| Gettysburg, PA | $31,390 |
| Reading, PA | $30,760 |
| Lebanon, PA | $30,300 |
| Chambersburg, PA | $30,030 |
| Scranton, PA | $29,770 |
| Williamsport, PA | $29,320 |
| Erie, PA | $28,590 |
| Johnstown, PA | $28,280 |
| Altoona, PA | $27,630 |
Related jobs in Philadelphia
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $65,680 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $46,580 |
| Cook | $38,870 |
| Cook | $38,850 |
| Cook | $38,270 |
| Bartender | $36,040 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,560 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $34,190 |
| Food Server | $33,300 |
| Dishwasher | $33,270 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make an hour in Philadelphia?
The median hourly pay in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area is $17.58 ($36,570 a year).
Do waiter and waitresss make more in Philadelphia than the national average?
Yes: $36,570 against $35,230 nationally, 4% more.
How does Philadelphia compare with the rest of Pennsylvania?
The median in Pennsylvania is $34,690, so Philadelphia pays 5% more.
Where does Philadelphia rank for waiter and waitress pay?
108 of 392 metro areas with data.
How much does a waiter and waitress make starting out in Philadelphia?
The lowest-paid 10% make $21,900 or less a year; the top 10% make $65,340 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.