Waiters and Waitresses salary in California
Waiters and Waitresses in California earn a median of $36,080 a year ($17.35 an hour), based on BLS data for 229,970 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,320 for the lowest-paid 10% to $68,950 for the top 10%. That is 2% higher than the national median of $35,230. California ranks 22nd of 51 states for waiters and waitresses pay. There are 13 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $44,600, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| 25th percentile | $34,900 | $16.78 |
| Median | $36,080 | $17.35 |
| 75th percentile | $39,870 | $19.17 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $68,950 | $33.15 |
| Average (mean) | $44,600 | $21.44 |
Half of waiters and waitresses 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 | $3,006.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,503.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,387.69 |
| Weekly | $693.85 |
| Hourly | $17.35 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $41,920 | 12,600 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $38,860 | 29,080 |
| Napa, CA | $37,130 | 1,930 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $36,830 | 3,670 |
| Vallejo, CA | $36,610 | 1,660 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $35,930 | 1,640 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $35,850 | 85,210 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $35,850 | 24,050 |
| Salinas, CA | $35,540 | 3,100 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $35,260 | 3,540 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $35,160 | 380 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $35,070 | 13,460 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $34,950 | 2,640 |
| Modesto, CA | $34,910 | 2,140 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $34,910 | 4,530 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $34,800 | 20,810 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $34,460 | 2,330 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $34,320 | 2,920 |
| Chico, CA | $34,320 | 990 |
| El Centro, CA | $34,320 | 480 |
| Fresno, CA | $34,320 | 4,340 |
| Merced, CA | $34,320 | 560 |
| Redding, CA | $34,320 | 680 |
| Visalia, CA | $34,320 | 1,410 |
| Yuba City, CA | $34,320 | 450 |
Highest-paying states for waiters and waitresses
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $62,390 |
| Vermont | $59,140 |
| Washington | $56,130 |
| Oregon | $48,410 |
| District of Columbia | $47,850 |
| New York | $47,020 |
| New Jersey | $44,960 |
| Colorado | $44,860 |
| Virginia | $44,760 |
| Arizona | $43,950 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $42,280 | $20.33 |
| Bartender | $36,220 | $17.41 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $39,010 | $18.75 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $44,880 | $21.58 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,980 | $22.59 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $42,050 | $20.21 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $39,350 | $18.92 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $36,010 | $17.31 |
| Dishwasher | $37,870 | $18.21 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $36,640 | $17.62 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $64,500 | $31.01 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $46,390 | $22.31 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $42,930 | $20.64 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $36,910 | $17.75 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-3031. 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 waiters and waitresses make in California?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in California is $36,080 a year, or $17.35 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,320 for the lowest-paid 10% to $68,950 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in California?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in California earn at least $68,950 a year. The top 25% earn $39,870 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,320 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $34,900 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in California?
About 229,970 waiters and waitresses are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.