How much does a food server make in Salinas?
$38,660a year
Median yearly pay for food servers in the Salinas, CA metro area. That is $18.59 an hour or $3,222 a month.
- Hourly
- $18.59
- Vs. national median
- +9%
- Rank among cities
- 18 of 353
- Jobs in the area
- 400
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $35,090Median: $38,660Highest 10%: $50,990
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,090 | $16.87 | |
| 25th | $36,060 | $17.34 | |
| Median | $38,660 | $18.59 | |
| 75th | $45,760 | $22.00 | |
| 90th | $50,990 | $24.51 |
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 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Salinas
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $72,440 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $48,220 |
| Cook | $46,820 |
| Cook | $44,930 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $43,260 |
| Cook | $43,120 |
| Cook | $40,550 |
| Cook | $39,640 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $38,480 |
| Dishwasher | $37,350 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food server make an hour in Salinas?
The median hourly pay in the Salinas, CA metro area is $18.59 ($38,660 a year).
Do food servers make more in Salinas than the national average?
Yes: $38,660 against $35,360 nationally, 9% more.
How does Salinas compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $39,010, so Salinas pays 1% less.
Where does Salinas rank for food server pay?
18 of 353 metro areas with data.
How much does a food server make starting out in Salinas?
The lowest-paid 10% make $35,090 or less a year; the top 10% make $50,990 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.