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  1. Career Hub
  2. Career Hub
  3. Cities
  4. Philadelphia
  5. Server
ByLocal Market Research Team
Reviewed by Indeed Flex Editorial Board
Updated January 15, 2026
Hospitality
Philadelphia, PA

Server Jobs in Philadelphia

Temp and flexible server positions in Philadelphia pay $12.24-$20.40/hr — 2% above the national average, with a cost of living 2% above the U.S. baseline.

$12-$20

Per Hour

$653

Weekly (40hrs)

102

Cost Index

EST

Time Zone

Find Server ShiftsCalculate Earnings
Quick Facts

Top Industries in Philadelphia

Healthcare
Education
Logistics
Hospitality

Monthly Costs

1-Bed Rent$1550
Groceries$340
Transport$95
More about Philadelphia

About Server Jobs in Philadelphia

Servers in Philadelphia earn $12.24-$20.40/hr, above the national average.

Servers (waiters/waitresses) take orders, serve food and beverages, and ensure guests have an excellent dining experience in restaurants, hotels, and catering events.

Most server positions in Philadelphia are available as temporary, part-time, or flexible shifts.

Server Pay: Philadelphia vs Nearby Cities

CityHourly PayCost of Living1-Bed Rent
Philadelphia, PA$12–$20/hr102$1,550
New York City, NY$22–$37/hr187$3,500
Pittsburgh, PA$12–$19/hr93$1,350
Boston, MA$18–$30/hr152$2,800
Baltimore, MD$13–$21/hr107$1,600
Worker Proprietary Metric

Worker Affordability Score

Calculated for Server in Philadelphia

1.7x
Challenging
95
Hours to pay rent
59%
Rent / gross income
52
Monthly disposable
16% less affordable than US national average

Data based on BLS OEWS wage data and HUD 2024 fair market rents.

What You’ll Actually Earn in Philadelphia

Monthly Income (40 hrs/wk)
Gross monthly$2,827
Est. taxes (~22%)-$622
Take-home$2,205
After Essential Costs
1-Bed Rent$1,550
Groceries + transport$435
Remaining$220

Based on avg Server rate of $16.32/hr at 40 hrs/wk.

Key Responsibilities

  • Greet guests and present menus
  • Take accurate food and beverage orders
  • Serve food and drinks promptly
  • Handle payments and process transactions
  • Address customer concerns professionally

Skills & Requirements

Key Skills
Customer service
Memory & attention
Communication
Time management
Teamwork
Requirements
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Ability to stand and walk for extended periods
  • Weekend and evening availability
  • Food handler certification (varies by location)

Where Servers Work in Philadelphia

Philadelphia has active hiring opportunities for servers at these major employers. Compiled from public sources including the Bureau of Labor Statistics and company reports.

Aramark

Hospitality & Dining

hospitality
$14-$26/hr(Indeed)
~280 seasonal hires, 140+ ongoing
Day, Evening, Night, Weekend shifts
Peak hiring: May, June & December

Source: BLS QCEW metro patterns, company careers | Verified: 2026-04-13

Starr Restaurants

Hospitality & Dining

hospitality
$14-$26/hr(Indeed)
~280 seasonal hires, 140+ ongoing
Day, Evening, Night, Weekend shifts
Peak hiring: May, June & December

Source: BLS QCEW metro patterns, company careers | Verified: 2026-04-13

Comcast Technology Center Hospitality

Hospitality & Dining

hospitality
$14-$26/hr(Indeed)
~280 seasonal hires, 140+ ongoing
Day, Evening, Night, Weekend shifts
Peak hiring: May, June & December

Source: BLS QCEW metro patterns, company careers | Verified: 2026-04-13

Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia

Hospitality & Dining

hospitality
$14-$26/hr(Indeed)
~280 seasonal hires, 140+ ongoing
Day, Evening, Night, Weekend shifts
Peak hiring: May, June & December

Source: BLS QCEW metro patterns, company careers | Verified: 2026-04-13

Philadelphia Job Market Snapshot

Top Industries for Servers

healthcare$15-$23/hr
industrial$17-$23/hr
hospitality$14-$26/hr

Best Times to Apply

June - Summer peak hiring
November - Holiday season
March - Spring events & tourism

Major Employment Areas

Metro core & corridorsVaries by submarket
Airport logistics zoneWarehouse & cargo
Healthcare & education clusterHospitals & campuses

Last updated: 2026-04-13

Best Areas for Servers in Philadelphia

Understanding Philadelphia's job landscape can help you find the best opportunities and plan your commute. Here's what you need to know about the major employment areas.

Center City
Transit: excellent

hospitality area

12% above avg
SEPTA subway (BSL, MFL), regional rail, and many bus routes converge here.
Lunch (11am-2pm), dinner (5pm-10pm), weekend brunch
server
bartender
retail assistant
housekeeper

Tips for this area

  • • Rittenhouse Square area has upscale dining with strong tips
  • • Reading Terminal Market has food service positions
University City
Transit: excellent

mixed area

Average pay
SEPTA trolleys and MFL. Very walkable.
Academic calendar driven - busiest Sept-May
server
prep cook
housekeeper

Tips for this area

  • • Penn and Drexel campuses have food service and facilities roles
  • • Hospital system roles available at Penn Medicine

Commute Tips for Philadelphia

  • •SEPTA Key card ($2.50/ride) makes transfers easy between all transit modes.
  • •Regional rail is best for Bucks County and suburban warehouse locations.
  • •Bike share (Indego) is practical for Center City commutes.

Last updated: 2026-02-01

Earnings Calculator for Philadelphia

Calculate Your Server Earningsin Philadelphia
$16/hr
$12.24/hr$20.4/hr
25 hr
5 hr (Part-time)50 hr (Full-time+)
Weekly
$550
Monthly
$2,382
Yearly
$28,600

Includes ~$150/week in estimated tips

Open Full Pay Calculator

Career Path from Server

Server

0-2 years

Head Server

2-4 years

Restaurant Supervisor

4-6 years

Restaurant Manager

6+ years

FAQs: Server Jobs in Philadelphia

Start Earning Today

Join thousands of servers in Philadelphia earning on their own schedule

Get Started Free
Related Roles in Philadelphia
Barback$12-$18/hrBarista$13-$19/hrBartender$15-$25/hrChef de Partie$17-$26/hrEntry Level Cook$14-$19/hrView all roles in Philadelphia →
Server in Nearby Cities
New York City, NYPittsburgh, PABoston, MABaltimore, MDBrowse all cities →
Helpful Tools
Pay CalculatorCost of Living ComparisonShift PlannerServer Career Guide

Explore More Opportunities

More Jobs in Philadelphia

  • Barback in Philadelphia
  • Barista in Philadelphia
  • Bartender in Philadelphia
  • Chef de Partie in Philadelphia
  • Entry Level Cook in Philadelphia
  • Commis Chef in Philadelphia

Server in Other Cities

  • Server in Charlotte, NC
  • Server in Las Vegas, NV
  • Server in Dallas, TX
  • Server in Columbus, OH
  • Server in Phoenix, AZ
  • Server in Chicago, IL

Related Resources

  • Hospitality Industry Guide
  • Complete Server Career Guide
  • Getting Started Guides
  • Financial Tips for Flex Workers

Data Sources & Methodology

The information on this page is compiled from the following sources:

  1. [1]
    BLS QCEW — Employment and wage data at state and county level by industry.Visit
  2. [2]
    BLS CES — Monthly survey of ~670,000 worksites providing industry-level employment and earnings data.Visit
  3. [3]
    Census ACS — Demographic, economic, and housing data for communities.Visit
  4. [4]
    Indeed Hiring Lab — Monthly posted-wage data by job title from Indeed job listings.Visit
  5. [5]
    MWPVL — Comprehensive database of distribution center and warehouse locations.Visit
  6. [6]
    DOL/State Labor Depts — Minimum wage rates, tip credits, licensing requirements, and regulations by state.Visit

Data Freshness

CategoryCost of Living
Last Updated2026-01-15
Next Update2027-01-15

We strive to keep all data accurate and up-to-date. Pay rates may vary based on location, experience, and employer.

About this data

Figures on this page are compiled from the public sources cited above and may be out of date. They are provided for general informational purposes only and do not constitute professional career, legal, tax, or financial advice. For the most current pay rates, verify with the original source, a qualified professional, or check the Indeed Flex app directly for real-time shift availability and compensation.

Explore Jobs in Philadelphia

Find opportunities and compare costs

Top Jobs in This City
  • Server Jobs in Philadelphia$12-$20/hr
  • Chef de Partie Jobs in Philadelphia$17-$26/hr
  • Housekeeper Jobs in Philadelphia$14-$19/hr
  • Dishwasher Jobs in Philadelphia$12-$17/hr
  • Host / Hostess Jobs in Philadelphia$12-$18/hr
  • Food Runner Jobs in Philadelphia$12-$17/hr
Compare Living Costs
  • Cost of Living CalculatorSee expenses in Philadelphia
Nearby Cities
  • Charlotte, NC$14-$21/hr avg
  • Las Vegas, NV$14-$24/hr avg
  • Dallas, TX$14-$23/hr avg
  • Columbus, OH$13-$20/hr avg

Popular Searches

Hospitality Jobs
Industrial & Warehouse Jobs
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Jobs in Charlotte
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