Waiters and Waitresses Salary in Ponce, PR
In Ponce, PR, waiters and waitresses earn $20,630 at the median — $9.92 an hour. The range runs from $20K at the entry level to $38K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100), that's roughly $20,630 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $538/month — about 36.7% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $21K get you in Ponce?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Ponce’s Regional Price Parity (100). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Ponce, PR
Entry-level waiters and waitresses (10th percentile) start around $20K. Mid-career wages sit at $21K. Top earners bring in $38K or more, a $18K spread from bottom to top.
Waiters and Waitresses pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vermont | $61K | +80% | 3,730 |
| Hawaii | $49K | +44% | 13,830 |
| Washington | $47K | +41% | 43,720 |
| New York | $46K | +38% | 140,890 |
| District of Columbia | $46K | +36% | 10,540 |
| Maine | $45K | +32% | 8,540 |
| Rhode Island | $43K | +26% | 11,010 |
| New Hampshire | $39K | +16% | 10,840 |
| New Jersey | $39K | +15% | 56,560 |
| Virginia | $37K | +10% | 61,260 |
| Arizona | $37K | +9% | 55,010 |
| Connecticut | $36K | +8% | 21,720 |
| Massachusetts | $36K | +8% | 50,160 |
| Ohio | $36K | +7% | 76,260 |
| Michigan | $36K | +6% | 64,920 |
| California | $35K | +5% | 243,300 |
| Maryland | $35K | +4% | 37,680 |
| Nebraska | $34K | +1% | 12,930 |
| Oregon | $34K | +1% | 22,920 |
| Delaware | $34K | -0% | 8,040 |
| Kansas | $32K | -7% | 20,290 |
| Idaho | $31K | -10% | 11,590 |
| New Mexico | $30K | -10% | 13,370 |
| West Virginia | $30K | -10% | 9,190 |
| Pennsylvania | $30K | -10% | 82,920 |
| Utah | $30K | -12% | 18,030 |
| Florida | $30K | -12% | 208,920 |
| North Dakota | $29K | -13% | 5,290 |
| Illinois | $29K | -14% | 84,550 |
| South Dakota | $29K | -14% | 7,080 |
| Wisconsin | $29K | -14% | 39,510 |
| North Carolina | $28K | -16% | 74,110 |
| Tennessee | $28K | -16% | 53,400 |
| Texas | $28K | -17% | 210,170 |
| Indiana | $27K | -19% | 43,880 |
| Alaska | $27K | -19% | 3,980 |
| Missouri | $27K | -20% | 43,360 |
| Arkansas | $26K | -22% | 17,820 |
| Iowa | $26K | -23% | 21,440 |
| Wyoming | $25K | -25% | 3,710 |
| Nevada | $25K | -26% | 39,910 |
| Minnesota | $24K | -28% | 38,540 |
| Montana | $23K | -33% | 7,630 |
| Kentucky | $22K | -34% | 27,800 |
| Alabama | $22K | -35% | 28,540 |
| Mississippi | $20K | -40% | 16,160 |
| Georgia | $20K | -41% | 71,870 |
| Oklahoma | $20K | -41% | 26,460 |
| South Carolina | $19K | -45% | 43,730 |
| Louisiana | $17K | -50% | 33,170 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track waiters and waitresses salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Ponce numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do waiters and waitresses make in Ponce, PR?
The median is $20,630 a year, that works out to about $10 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $19,760, and experienced waiters and waitresses can clear $37,760. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $21K enough to live in Ponce?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $1,541/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $538/month, which eats 34.9% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a waiters and waitresses salary go in Ponce?
Ponce has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median waiters and waitresses salary is worth about $20,630 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do waiters and waitresses get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.