How much does a food server make in San Diego?
$38,260a year
Median yearly pay for food servers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $18.39 an hour or $3,188 a month.
- Hourly
- $18.39
- Vs. national median
- +8%
- Rank among cities
- 22 of 353
- Jobs in the area
- 3,400
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $35,240Median: $38,260Highest 10%: $50,070
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,240 | $16.94 | |
| 25th | $36,510 | $17.55 | |
| Median | $38,260 | $18.39 | |
| 75th | $43,050 | $20.70 | |
| 90th | $50,070 | $24.07 |
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 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 San Diego
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $60,600 |
| Cook | $47,100 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $46,980 |
| Cook | $46,440 |
| Cook | $42,450 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $42,190 |
| Cook | $38,870 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $38,780 |
| Dishwasher | $38,530 |
| Cook | $37,300 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food server make an hour in San Diego?
The median hourly pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $18.39 ($38,260 a year).
Do food servers make more in San Diego than the national average?
Yes: $38,260 against $35,360 nationally, 8% more.
How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $39,010, so San Diego pays 2% less.
Where does San Diego rank for food server pay?
22 of 353 metro areas with data.
How much does a food server make starting out in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% make $35,240 or less a year; the top 10% make $50,070 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.