Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Clarks Summit, PA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 59.1% of gross income.

Clarks Summit rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Pennsylvania state estimate).

Clarks Summit median rent
$1,780/mo
Waiter or Waitress salary (Pennsylvania)
$36,165/yr
Rent as % of income
59.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,014, and the 30% rule supports up to $904/mo in rent. Clarks Summit's median rent of $1,780 exceeds that threshold by $876/mo, putting a waiter or waitress salary into the rent-burdened range here. A waiter or waitress works roughly 102.4 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 Clarks Summit, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:

Northampton, PA
$1,777/mo (59% of income)
Wyncote, PA
$1,775/mo (58.9% of income)
Lititz, PA
$1,775/mo (58.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Clarks Summit

View full rent data for Clarks Summit, PA

Frequently asked questions

Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Clarks Summit, PA?

Median rent in Clarks Summit is $1,780 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Pennsylvania earns about $36,165 a year, which makes that rent 59.1% 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 Clarks Summit?

Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Pennsylvania (~$36,165/yr) supports up to $904 a month in rent. Clarks Summit's current median rent is $1,780/mo, which is $876/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Clarks Summit?

At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Pennsylvania works roughly 102.4 hours a month to cover Clarks Summit's median rent of $1,780.

Where is rent cheaper than Clarks Summit for a waiter or waitress?

Nearby Pennsylvania cities with lower median rent include Northampton ($1,777/mo), Wyncote ($1,775/mo), Lititz ($1,775/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 Clarks Summit, PA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.