Bartender Salary in Erie, PA
Bartenders in the Erie, PA metro area earn a median $22,730 a year — 34% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $19,630 take-home, or $1,636 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bartender salary in Erie, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$663
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,409
- Medicare (1.45%)$330
- Pennsylvania income tax$698
- Take-home pay$19,630
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 3.07% state
Bartender pay by experience in Erie, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $16,150 | $7.76 | $14,414 | $1,201 |
| 25th percentile | $18,220 | $8.76 | $16,055 | $1,338 |
| Median (50th) | $22,730 | $10.93 | $19,630 | $1,636 |
| 75th percentile | $44,420 | $21.36 | $36,508 | $3,042 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,780 | $29.22 | $49,151 | $4,096 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $22,730 buys in Erie, PA
Prices in Erie, PA are 9.0% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 43% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bartender's $19,630 take-home pay has the buying power of $21,584 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Erie, PA has 1.9× the national concentration of bartender jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Erie, PA ranks #196 of 237 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului, HI | $86,280 | $64,501 | $58,962 |
| 2 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $75,340 | $57,636 | $51,943 |
| 3 | Kennewick, WA | $55,820 | $47,031 | $46,994 |
| 4 | Bellingham, WA | $56,110 | $47,264 | $45,739 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $58,180 | $48,928 | $44,026 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $61,220 | $48,661 | $43,230 |
| 7 | Bremerton, WA | $53,810 | $45,416 | $43,005 |
| 8 | Portland, ME | $54,170 | $43,231 | $42,442 |
| 196 | Erie, PA | $22,730 | $19,630 | $21,584 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 237 metros →
Bartender salaries elsewhere in Pennsylvania
- Philadelphia, PA — $36,040
- Allentown, PA — $32,220
- Pittsburgh, PA — $29,750
- York, PA — $28,810
- Scranton, PA — $28,010
- Reading, PA — $28,260
- State College, PA — $28,100
- Lancaster, PA — $28,280
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Erie, PA?
The median bartender salary in the Erie, PA metro area is $22,730 a year, or about $10.93 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $18,220 and $44,420.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Erie, PA?
On the median $22,730 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $19,630 a year ($1,636 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $698 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Erie, PA a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 34% below the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 9.0% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $21,584 would in a typical U.S. city. Erie, PA ranks #196 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender afford rent in Erie, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Erie, PA is $945 a month ($1,212 for two bedrooms) — 58% of a median bartender’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Erie, PA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $37,980
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $35,620
- Cooks, Restaurant — $33,550
- Waiter and Waitress — $28,590
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $26,540
- Dishwasher — $26,300