Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Pittston, PA?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 37.1% of gross income.
Pittston rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Pennsylvania state estimate).
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 Pittston, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Pittston
View full rent data for Pittston, PA →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Pittston, PA?
Median rent in Pittston is $1,119 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Pennsylvania earns about $36,165 a year, which makes that rent 37.1% 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 Pittston?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Pennsylvania (~$36,165/yr) supports up to $904 a month in rent. Pittston's current median rent is $1,119/mo, which is $215/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Pittston?
At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Pennsylvania works roughly 64.4 hours a month to cover Pittston's median rent of $1,119.
Where is rent cheaper than Pittston for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Pennsylvania cities with lower median rent include McKeesport ($1,118/mo), McKeesport ($1,118/mo), Washington ($1,117/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.