How much does a food server make in San Jose?
$46,210a year
Median yearly pay for food servers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area. That is $22.22 an hour or $3,851 a month.
- Hourly
- $22.22
- Vs. national median
- +31%
- Rank among cities
- 2 of 353
- Jobs in the area
- 1,960
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $40,390Median: $46,210Highest 10%: $65,030
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $40,390 | $19.42 | |
| 25th | $43,090 | $20.72 | |
| Median | $46,210 | $22.22 | |
| 75th | $57,370 | $27.58 | |
| 90th | $65,030 | $31.26 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for food servers.
| 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 |
Related jobs in San Jose
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $79,020 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $55,520 |
| Cook | $51,880 |
| Cook | $47,220 |
| Cook | $47,170 |
| Cook | $45,990 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $45,580 |
| Cook | $44,740 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $44,720 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $44,570 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food server make an hour in San Jose?
The median hourly pay in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $22.22 ($46,210 a year).
Do food servers make more in San Jose than the national average?
Yes: $46,210 against $35,360 nationally, 31% more.
How does San Jose compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $39,010, so San Jose pays 18% more.
Where does San Jose rank for food server pay?
2 of 353 metro areas with data.
How much does a food server make starting out in San Jose?
The lowest-paid 10% make $40,390 or less a year; the top 10% make $65,030 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.