Waiters and Waitresses pay range in Erie
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $16,140 a year or less, while the top 10% make $58,250 or more. The middle half of waiters and waitresses in Erie earn between $22,150 and $39,930.
- $16K10th
- $22K25th
- $29KMedian
- $40K75th
- $58K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $33,540 | $2,795 | $16.12 |
| Median | $28,590 | $2,382 | $13.75 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $22,150 | $1,846 | $10.65 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $39,930 | $3,328 | $19.20 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Waiters and Waitresses pay in Erie vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Waiters and waitresses in Erie earn 12% less than the Pennsylvania average ($38,110) and 16% less than the U.S. average ($40,060). At the median the gap is -19% against the U.S. median of $35,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erie | $33,540 | $28,590 | $16,140 | $58,250 | 1,840 |
| Pennsylvania | $38,110 | $34,690 | $18,400 | $61,780 | 82,300 |
| United States | $40,060 | $35,230 | $18,100 | $64,720 | 2,270,910 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Waiters and Waitresses salary after taxes in Erie
On the average salary of $33,540, a single filer in Erie takes home about $28,100 a year, or $2,342 a month and $1,081 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.
Is Erie a good place for waiters and waitresses? 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 $33,540 buys what about $36,877 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Erie ($44,460). A typical home costs $224,109, or 6.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Erie ranks 14th of 16 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job; Philadelphia pays the most ($41,390).
- Philadelphia$41,390
- Pittsburgh$39,630
- Allentown$38,400
- Harrisburg$37,830
- State College$37,170
- Lancaster$37,080
- York$37,000
- Lebanon$36,240
- Reading$36,110
- Erie$33,540
Highest-paying cities for waiters and waitresses
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($87,210).
- Kahului, HI$87,210
- Seattle, WA$62,940
- Honolulu, HI$61,880
- Bremerton, WA$61,770
- Burlington, VT$61,070
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Waiters and Waitresses salary in Erie: questions
How much do waiters and waitresses make an hour in Erie?
$16.13 an hour on average, and $13.75 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level waiters and waitresses salary in Erie?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $16,140 a year and the 25th percentile is $22,150, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the waiters and waitresses take-home pay in Erie?
About $28,100 a year ($2,342 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $33,540. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do waiters and waitresses earn more in Erie than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% less than the U.S. average for this job ($40,060).
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 35-3031; area Erie, PA (21500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.6%.
- 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 1.04, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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