How much does a food server make in San Francisco?
$44,710a year
Median yearly pay for food servers in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area. That is $21.50 an hour or $3,726 a month.
- Hourly
- $21.50
- Vs. national median
- +26%
- Rank among cities
- 4 of 353
- Jobs in the area
- 4,160
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $38,630Median: $44,710Highest 10%: $67,400
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,630 | $18.57 | |
| 25th | $41,170 | $19.79 | |
| Median | $44,710 | $21.50 | |
| 75th | $54,750 | $26.32 | |
| 90th | $67,400 | $32.40 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for food servers.
| San Jose, CA | $46,210 |
| Hanford, CA | $45,030 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in San Francisco
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $68,970 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $51,520 |
| Cook | $49,140 |
| Cook | $46,670 |
| Cook | $46,030 |
| Cook | $45,790 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $43,870 |
| Cook | $42,860 |
| Dishwasher | $42,100 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $41,970 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food server make an hour in San Francisco?
The median hourly pay in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $21.50 ($44,710 a year).
Do food servers make more in San Francisco than the national average?
Yes: $44,710 against $35,360 nationally, 26% more.
How does San Francisco compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $39,010, so San Francisco pays 15% more.
Where does San Francisco rank for food server pay?
4 of 353 metro areas with data.
How much does a food server make starting out in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% make $38,630 or less a year; the top 10% make $67,400 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.