Waiters and Waitresses pay in California
In California, the median pay for waiters and waitresses is $17.35 an hour ($36,080 a year). About 229,970 people work in this job there.
That is 2% higher than the U.S. median ($35,230). California ranks 22nd of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in California
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $16.50 | $34,320 |
| 25% of workers | $16.78 | $34,900 |
| Half of workers (median) | $17.35 | $36,080 |
| 75% of workers | $19.17 | $39,870 |
| 90% of workers | $33.15 | $68,950 |
Waiters and Waitresses pay in California metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $41,920 | 12,600 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $38,860 | 29,080 |
| Napa | $37,130 | 1,930 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $36,830 | 3,670 |
| Vallejo | $36,610 | 1,660 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $35,930 | 1,640 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $35,850 | 85,210 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $35,850 | 24,050 |
| Salinas | $35,540 | 3,100 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $35,260 | 3,540 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $35,160 | 380 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $35,070 | 13,460 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $34,950 | 2,640 |
| Modesto | $34,910 | 2,140 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $34,910 | 4,530 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $34,800 | 20,810 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $34,460 | 2,330 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $34,320 | 2,920 |
| Chico | $34,320 | 990 |
| El Centro | $34,320 | 480 |
| Fresno | $34,320 | 4,340 |
| Merced | $34,320 | 560 |
| Redding | $34,320 | 680 |
| Visalia | $34,320 | 1,410 |
| Yuba City | $34,320 | 450 |
California unemployment rate: 5.1% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for waiters and waitresses
- Typical education to start: No formal educational credential (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: None (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Short-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +2% over ten years, about as fast as average · about 423,100 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $42,280 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,980 |
| Food Preparation Workers | $39,350 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $36,010 |
| Bartenders | $36,220 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $36,640 |
| Food Service Managers | $78,260 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $39,010 |
Other job titles for this job
Open waiters and waitresses jobs on JAI Bot
No open jobs in this field right now. Search all jobs or set up a free job alert.
Hiring waiters and waitresses? Use the free hiring guide for a job description and interview questions, then post the job on JAI Bot. Every job shows typical pay to job seekers.
Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.