Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Pennsylvania
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Pennsylvania earn a median of $33,300 a year ($16.01 an hour), based on BLS data for 13,940 workers.
Pay ranges from $27,450 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,980 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $35,360. Pennsylvania ranks 28th of 51 states for food servers, nonrestaurant pay. There are 2.3 food servers, nonrestaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $33,720, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food servers, nonrestaurant in Pennsylvania
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,450 | $13.20 |
| 25th percentile | $29,480 | $14.17 |
| Median | $33,300 | $16.01 |
| 75th percentile | $38,020 | $18.28 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $42,980 | $20.66 |
| Average (mean) | $33,720 | $16.21 |
Half of food servers, nonrestaurant earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,775 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,387.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,280.77 |
| Weekly | $640.38 |
| Hourly | $16.01 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in cities in Pennsylvania
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Williamsport, PA | $36,170 | 150 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $34,630 | 2,340 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $34,370 | 950 |
| Chambersburg, PA | $33,790 | 170 |
| State College, PA | $33,540 | 130 |
| York-Hanover, PA | $33,500 | 340 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $33,380 | 670 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $33,300 | 7,610 |
| Lebanon, PA | $33,040 | 100 |
| Erie, PA | $32,300 | 280 |
| Reading, PA | $30,810 | 380 |
| Lancaster, PA | $30,660 | 1,060 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $30,600 | 490 |
| Johnstown, PA | $28,760 | 70 |
| Gettysburg, PA | $28,520 | 90 |
| Altoona, PA | $27,860 | 110 |
Highest-paying states for food servers, nonrestaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $39,370 |
| California | $39,010 |
| Colorado | $38,900 |
| Washington | $38,870 |
| Alaska | $38,090 |
| District of Columbia | $37,920 |
| Hawaii | $37,920 |
| Maine | $37,680 |
| Vermont | $37,540 |
| North Dakota | $36,910 |
Related jobs in Pennsylvania
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,570 | $13.74 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $34,690 | $16.68 |
| Bartender | $28,420 | $13.66 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,580 | $17.59 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $43,050 | $20.70 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,540 | $17.57 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,310 | $14.09 |
| Dishwasher | $29,950 | $14.40 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,170 | $14.02 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,840 | $14.83 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,810 | $13.85 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $63,860 | $30.70 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $19,910 | $9.57 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $33,040 | $15.89 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Pennsylvania
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-3041. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food servers, nonrestaurant make in Pennsylvania?
The median salary for food servers, nonrestaurant in Pennsylvania is $33,300 a year, or $16.01 an hour. Pay ranges from $27,450 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,980 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food servers, nonrestaurant make in Pennsylvania?
The top 10% of food servers, nonrestaurant in Pennsylvania earn at least $42,980 a year. The top 25% earn $38,020 or more.
What is the starting pay for food servers, nonrestaurant in Pennsylvania?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $27,450 a year, and a quarter of food servers, nonrestaurant earn $29,480 or less.
How many food servers, nonrestaurant work in Pennsylvania?
About 13,940 food servers, nonrestaurant are employed in Pennsylvania, not counting the self-employed.