Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Bryn Mawr, PA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 78.4% of gross income.

Bryn Mawr rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Pennsylvania state estimate).

Bryn Mawr median rent
$2,363/mo
Waiter or Waitress salary (Pennsylvania)
$36,165/yr
Rent as % of income
78.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,014, and the 30% rule supports up to $904/mo in rent. Bryn Mawr's median rent of $2,363 exceeds that threshold by $1,459/mo, putting a waiter or waitress salary into the rent-burdened range here. A waiter or waitress works roughly 135.9 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a waiter or waitress salary

Declared server pay (base plus reported tips) sits below the rent threshold needed for a one-bedroom apartment in most US cities, which is why the server workforce tends to live in shared housing. Actual tip income varies widely and can push real take-home well above the BLS figure, particularly in fine-dining and high-volume restaurants. At the national-average declared server salary, the 30% rule supports about $913 a month in rent. The per-city pages show which markets keep rent within that range.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Pennsylvania cities have lower median rent than Bryn Mawr, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:

Collegeville, PA
$2,360/mo (78.3% of income)
Paoli, PA
$2,359/mo (78.3% of income)
Kennett Square, PA
$2,357/mo (78.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Bryn Mawr

View full rent data for Bryn Mawr, PA

Frequently asked questions

Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Bryn Mawr, PA?

Median rent in Bryn Mawr is $2,363 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Pennsylvania earns about $36,165 a year, which makes that rent 78.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a waiter or waitress afford in Bryn Mawr?

Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Pennsylvania (~$36,165/yr) supports up to $904 a month in rent. Bryn Mawr's current median rent is $2,363/mo, which is $1,459/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Bryn Mawr?

At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Pennsylvania works roughly 135.9 hours a month to cover Bryn Mawr's median rent of $2,363.

Where is rent cheaper than Bryn Mawr for a waiter or waitress?

Nearby Pennsylvania cities with lower median rent include Collegeville ($2,360/mo), Paoli ($2,359/mo), Kennett Square ($2,357/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Pennsylvania state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Bryn Mawr, PA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.