How much does a food server make in Riverside?
$37,120a year
Median yearly pay for food servers in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area. That is $17.85 an hour or $3,093 a month.
- Hourly
- $17.85
- Vs. national median
- +5%
- Rank among cities
- 46 of 353
- Jobs in the area
- 2,290
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $34,320Median: $37,120Highest 10%: $51,050
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,320 | $16.50 | |
| 25th | $35,190 | $16.92 | |
| Median | $37,120 | $17.85 | |
| 75th | $44,950 | $21.61 | |
| 90th | $51,050 | $24.54 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for food servers.
| 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 |
| Fresno, CA | $36,770 |
| Redding, CA | $35,740 |
| Visalia, CA | $35,680 |
| El Centro, CA | $35,590 |
Related jobs in Riverside
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $64,480 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $44,990 |
| Cook | $44,470 |
| Cook | $42,480 |
| Cook | $42,450 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $42,280 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $38,420 |
| Cook | $37,040 |
| Dishwasher | $36,710 |
| Cook | $35,610 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food server make an hour in Riverside?
The median hourly pay in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area is $17.85 ($37,120 a year).
Do food servers make more in Riverside than the national average?
Yes: $37,120 against $35,360 nationally, 5% more.
How does Riverside compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $39,010, so Riverside pays 5% less.
Where does Riverside rank for food server pay?
46 of 353 metro areas with data.
How much does a food server make starting out in Riverside?
The lowest-paid 10% make $34,320 or less a year; the top 10% make $51,050 or more.
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.