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We develop an empirical site‐amplification model for central and eastern North America (CENA) that is parameterized using two site variables:(1) the peak site frequency (⁠ f peak⁠) and (2) the time‐averaged shear‐wave velocity in the upper 30 m (⁠ V S 30⁠). The model is developed by first deriving empirical site‐amplification terms for seismographic sites in CENA. This is done by analyzing the residuals calculated from ground‐motion amplitude data with respect to a selected regional ground‐motion prediction equation that applies to hard‐rock reference site conditions. An amplification model is then developed that explains the residuals in terms of the two site variables (⁠ f peak and V S 30⁠). We consider two alternative cases. In the first case, we assume that V S 30 is the main modeling parameter and then model any remaining residual effects in terms of f peak⁠. In this case, we obtain a frequency …