Waiters and Waitresses Salary in California
Waiters and Waitresses in California earn a median annual wage of $36,080 —2.4% above the national median of $35,230. That ranks CA #22 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.
Wage distribution
How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.
Employment concentration (0.86×) is close to the national average.
Highest-paying states for waiters and waitresses
All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. California is highlighted.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | $62,390 | $29.99 | 14,090 | 1.54 |
| 2 | Vermont | $59,140 | $28.43 | 4,040 | 0.91 |
| 3 | Washington | $56,130 | $26.98 | 45,400 | 0.88 |
| 4 | Oregon | $48,410 | $23.27 | 23,040 | 0.80 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $47,850 | $23.01 | 11,530 | 1.12 |
| 6 | New York | $47,020 | $22.61 | 142,940 | 1.01 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $44,960 | $21.62 | 55,800 | 0.89 |
| 8 | Colorado | $44,860 | $21.57 | 40,680 | 0.97 |
| 9 | Virginia | $44,760 | $21.52 | 59,370 | 0.99 |
| 10 | Arizona | $43,950 | $21.13 | 55,950 | 1.18 |
Related occupations in California
Occupations in the same job family, compared within California.
| Occupation | California median | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $42,280 | $31,200 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $44,880 | $37,390 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,980 | $44,080 |
| Food Preparation Workers | $39,350 | $35,320 |
| Bartenders | $36,220 | $34,340 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $42,050 | $30,890 |
Frequently asked questions
How much do waiters and waitresses make in California?
The median annual wage for waiters and waitresses in California is $36,080, or $17.35 per hour. That is 2.4% above the national median of $35,230.
What is the entry-level waiters and waitresses salary in California?
Workers at the 10th percentile earn $34,320 per year ($16.50/hour). The 25th percentile is $34,900.
How many people work as waiters and waitresses in California?
About 229,970 people work in this occupation in California, or 12.6 per 1,000 jobs statewide.
Is California a good state for waiters and waitresses?
California ranks #22 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment concentration (0.86x) is close to the national average.
Which state pays waiters and waitresses the most?
Hawaii has the highest median wage at $62,390 per year, followed by Vermont ($59,140) and Washington ($56,130).