How much does a food server make in Reading?
$30,810a year
Median yearly pay for food servers in the Reading, PA metro area. That is $14.81 an hour or $2,568 a month.
- Hourly
- $14.81
- Vs. national median
- -13%
- Rank among cities
- 234 of 353
- Jobs in the area
- 380
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $24,290Median: $30,810Highest 10%: $45,550
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $24,290 | $11.68 | |
| 25th | $28,230 | $13.57 | |
| Median | $30,810 | $14.81 | |
| 75th | $38,400 | $18.46 | |
| 90th | $45,550 | $21.90 |
Other cities in Pennsylvania
Median yearly pay for food servers.
| Williamsport, PA | $36,170 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $34,630 |
| Allentown, PA | $34,370 |
| Chambersburg, PA | $33,790 |
| State College, PA | $33,540 |
| York, PA | $33,500 |
| Harrisburg, PA | $33,380 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $33,300 |
| Lebanon, PA | $33,040 |
| Erie, PA | $32,300 |
| Lancaster, PA | $30,660 |
| Scranton, PA | $30,600 |
| Johnstown, PA | $28,760 |
| Gettysburg, PA | $28,520 |
| Altoona, PA | $27,860 |
Related jobs in Reading
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $66,980 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $39,800 |
| Cook | $36,590 |
| Cook | $36,020 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $31,580 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $30,760 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $28,910 |
| Bartender | $28,260 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $28,190 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $28,090 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food server make an hour in Reading?
The median hourly pay in the Reading, PA metro area is $14.81 ($30,810 a year).
Do food servers make more in Reading than the national average?
No: $30,810 against $35,360 nationally, 13% less.
How does Reading compare with the rest of Pennsylvania?
The median in Pennsylvania is $33,300, so Reading pays 7% less.
Where does Reading rank for food server pay?
234 of 353 metro areas with data.
How much does a food server make starting out in Reading?
The lowest-paid 10% make $24,290 or less a year; the top 10% make $45,550 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.