SOC 35-3041 · Erie, PA metro

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant Salary in Erie, PA

The average salary for food servers, nonrestaurant in Erie, Pennsylvania is $32,600 a year ($15.68 an hour), according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $32,300: half of the 280 people in this job in the Erie, PA metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is 10% less than the U.S. average for this job ($36,140).

$32,600average per year

$15.68 / hourMedian $32,300Take-home ≈ $27,373

  • $25K10th
  • $28K25th
  • $32KMedian
  • $39K75th
  • $39K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

280people in this job
-10%vs U.S. average
#10 of 16Pennsylvania metros
91cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay range in Erie

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $24,710 a year or less, while the top 10% make $38,870 or more. The middle half of food servers, nonrestaurant in Erie earn between $27,780 and $38,570.

  • $25K10th
  • $28K25th
  • $32KMedian
  • $39K75th
  • $39K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$32,600$2,717$15.67
Median$32,300$2,692$15.53
Entry level (25th percentile)$27,780$2,315$13.36
Experienced (75th percentile)$38,570$3,214$18.54

*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay in Erie vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.

Food servers, nonrestaurant in Erie earn 3% less than the Pennsylvania average ($33,720) and 10% less than the U.S. average ($36,140). At the median the gap is -9% against the U.S. median of $35,360.

AreaAverageMedian10th pct.90th pct.Jobs
Erie$32,600$32,300$24,710$38,870280
Pennsylvania$33,720$33,300$27,450$42,98013,940
United States$36,140$35,360$28,030$46,120293,900

State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary after taxes in Erie

On the average salary of $32,600, a single filer in Erie takes home about $27,373 a year, or $2,281 a month and $1,053 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.

Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.

Pennsylvania paycheck calculator: try your own salary

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Is Erie a good place for food servers, nonrestaurant? Pay vs. cost of living

Prices in the Erie area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.0), so the average $32,600 buys what about $35,844 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Erie ($44,460). A typical home costs $224,109, or 6.9 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $32,600 is worth in another city

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in other Pennsylvania cities

Erie ranks 10th of 16 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job; Allentown pays the most ($34,970).

All Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salaries in Pennsylvania

Highest-paying cities for food servers, nonrestaurant

Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($59,020).

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary by city

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Reviewed before it counts. Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Erie, PA.

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Erie: questions

How much do food servers, nonrestaurant make an hour in Erie?

$15.68 an hour on average, and $15.53 at the median (BLS, May 2025).

What is the entry-level food servers, nonrestaurant salary in Erie?

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $24,710 a year and the 25th percentile is $27,780, a fair guide to starting pay.

What is the food servers, nonrestaurant take-home pay in Erie?

About $27,373 a year ($2,281 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $32,600. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.

Do food servers, nonrestaurant earn more in Erie than elsewhere?

The average here is 10% less than the U.S. average for this job ($36,140).

Sources and how to read this page

  • Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-3041; area Erie, PA (21500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.6%.
  • U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
  • Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
  • Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
  • Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
  • Job concentration: location quotient 1.21, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.

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