How much does a food server make in California?
$39,010a year
Median yearly pay for food servers in California. That is $18.75 an hour or $3,251 a month.
- Hourly
- $18.75
- Vs. national median
- +10%
- Rank among states
- 2 of 51
- Jobs in the state
- 32,430
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $35,120Median: $39,010Highest 10%: $57,550
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,120 | $16.88 | |
| 25th | $36,650 | $17.62 | |
| Median | $39,010 | $18.75 | |
| 75th | $46,900 | $22.55 | |
| 90th | $57,550 | $27.67 |
Cities in California
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| San Jose, CA | $46,210 |
| Hanford, CA | $45,030 |
| San Francisco, CA | $44,710 |
| Napa, CA | $41,850 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $40,180 |
| Vallejo, CA | $38,910 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $38,740 |
| Salinas, CA | $38,660 |
| Sacramento, CA | $38,460 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $38,350 |
| San Diego, CA | $38,260 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $38,150 |
| Modesto, CA | $38,010 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $37,860 |
| Yuba City, CA | $37,660 |
| Oxnard, CA | $37,480 |
| Chico, CA | $37,400 |
| Stockton, CA | $37,380 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $37,140 |
| Riverside, CA | $37,120 |
| Fresno, CA | $36,770 |
| Redding, CA | $35,740 |
| Visalia, CA | $35,680 |
| El Centro, CA | $35,590 |
Nearby in the ranking
States with similar pay for food servers.
| 1. New York | $39,370 |
| 2. California | $39,010 |
| 3. Colorado | $38,900 |
| 4. Washington | $38,870 |
| 5. Alaska | $38,090 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food server make an hour in California?
The median hourly pay in California is $18.75 ($39,010 a year).
Do food servers make more in California than the national average?
Yes: $39,010 against $35,360 nationally, 10% more.
Where does California rank for food server pay?
California ranks 2 of 51 states.
Which city in California pays food servers the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, with a median of $46,210 a year.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.