Waiters and Waitresses Salary in California
SOC 35-3031 · State · 2024 BLS OEWS
The median salary for a Waiters and Waitresses in California is $35,290 per year as of 2024. That works out to roughly $16.97 per hour. This is 5% above the national median of $33,760. 243,300 people work as Waiters and Waitresses in California. Wages have grown 80% since 2014, when the median was $19,570.
Median Annual Salary
$35,290
Mean Annual
$44,250
Median Hourly
$16.97
Total Employed
243,300
Location Quotient
0.90
Average concentration
Salary Distribution
How This Compares
California
$35,290
this metro
United States
$33,760
you earn +5% vs US
Salary Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $35,290 |
| 2023 | $34,780 |
| 2022 | $31,900 |
| 2021 | $30,270 |
| 2020 | $29,540 |
| 2019 | $26,580 |
| 2018 | $25,090 |
| 2017 | $25,100 |
| 2016 | $25,470 |
| 2015 | $23,270 |
| 2014 | $19,570 |
Related Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations Jobs in California
Other occupations in the same group, sorted by salary.
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $66,780 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,140 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $45,680 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $44,290 |
| Cooks, All Other | $39,430 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $39,010 |