Ithaca, NY · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Waiter or Waitress Salary in Ithaca, NY

In the Ithaca, NY metropolitan area, waiters or waitresses earned a median annual wage of $45,000 ($21.63/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $32,100/year and the 90th was $79,700/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and New York tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $36,504 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 103.3 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$45,000$21.63 per hour · $3,750 monthly
10th Percentile$32,100$15.43/hr base
25th Percentile$33,000$15.87/hr base
75th Percentile$61,700$29.66/hr base
90th Percentile$79,700$38.32/hr base

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-Home Pay Explorer

$45,000
$15,000$90,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$45,000
Net 81%
Fed 7%
NY 4%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$36,504After all taxes
Monthly deposit$3,042Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,404Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate18.9%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$3,220 / yr
New York state income tax$1,833 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$3,443 / yr

Waiters and Waitresses Wage Percentiles in Ithaca, NY

Official survey estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Full-time calculations assume standard 2,080 annual working hours.

Wage Distribution for Waiters and Waitresses in the Ithaca, NY Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (NY)
10th Percentile$15.43/hr$2,675$32,100$26,836
25th Percentile$15.87/hr$2,750$33,000$27,510
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$21.63/hr$3,750$45,000$36,504
75th Percentile$29.66/hr$5,142$61,700$49,021
90th Percentile$38.32/hr$6,642$79,700$61,192

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Ithaca, NY

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$45,000 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$74,024Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index103.33.3% above national average
Individual vs Household Ratio60.8%of area median income

Compare waiters or waitresses salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in New York:

Frequently Asked Questions About Waiters and Waitresses Pay in Ithaca, NY

What is the median salary for waiters or waitresses in Ithaca, NY?

The official BLS median annual wage for waiters or waitresses in Ithaca, NY is $45,000, which equates to approximately $3,750 per month or $21.63 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for waiters or waitresses in Ithaca, NY?

The median hourly wage for waiters or waitresses in Ithaca, NY is $21.63 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $15.43/hour and one in ten earned more than $38.32/hour.

What is the pay range for waiters or waitresses in Ithaca, NY?

BLS wage estimates for waiters or waitresses in Ithaca, NY span from $32,100 at the 10th percentile to $33,000 at the 25th, $61,700 at the 75th, and $79,700 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do waiters or waitresses take home after taxes in Ithaca, NY?

On a median gross salary of $45,000, an estimated $36,504 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,404 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in New York in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $8,496 (an effective rate of 18.9%).

How much do waiters or waitresses make per month in Ithaca, NY?

On the median annual salary of $45,000, gross monthly income is $3,750. After federal, FICA, and New York state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $3,042 per month (or $1,404 every two weeks).

Is $45,000 a good salary in Ithaca, NY?

At $45,000, the median salary for waiters or waitresses is 60.8% of the Ithaca, NY median household income ($74,024). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 103.3, making regional consumer goods and services 3.3% more expensive than the U.S. average.