Waiters and Waitresses Salary in Erie, PA
In Erie, PA, waiters and waitresses earn $27,560 at the median — $13.25 an hour. The range runs from $17K at the entry level to $55K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.95), which stretches that salary to about $30,302 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,212/month — about 61.1% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $28K get you in Erie?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Erie’s Regional Price Parity (90.95). 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.
About waiters and waitresses
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Erie, PA
Entry-level waiters and waitresses (10th percentile) start around $17K. Mid-career wages sit at $28K. Top earners bring in $55K or more, a $38K 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 Erie numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do waiters and waitresses make in Erie, PA?
The median is $27,560 a year, that works out to about $13 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $16,890, and experienced waiters and waitresses can clear $54,750. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $28K enough to live in Erie?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $1,945/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,212/month, which eats 62.3% 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 Erie?
Erie has a Regional Price Parity of 90.95 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median waiters and waitresses salary is worth about $30,302 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.