Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Scranton, PA?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 43.6% of gross income.
Scranton 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 Scranton, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Scranton
View full rent data for Scranton, PA →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Scranton, PA?
Median rent in Scranton is $1,315 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Pennsylvania earns about $36,165 a year, which makes that rent 43.6% 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 Scranton?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Pennsylvania (~$36,165/yr) supports up to $904 a month in rent. Scranton's current median rent is $1,315/mo, which is $411/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Scranton?
At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Pennsylvania works roughly 75.6 hours a month to cover Scranton's median rent of $1,315.
Where is rent cheaper than Scranton for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Pennsylvania cities with lower median rent include Allison Park ($1,314/mo), Bethel Park ($1,314/mo), Ephrata ($1,314/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.