How much does a food server make in Santa Cruz?
$37,860a year
Median yearly pay for food servers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area. That is $18.20 an hour or $3,155 a month.
- Hourly
- $18.20
- Vs. national median
- +7%
- Rank among cities
- 29 of 353
- Jobs in the area
- 170
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $35,470Median: $37,860Highest 10%: $50,560
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,470 | $17.05 | |
| 25th | $37,460 | $18.01 | |
| Median | $37,860 | $18.20 | |
| 75th | $42,720 | $20.54 | |
| 90th | $50,560 | $24.31 |
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 |
| 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 Santa Cruz
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $59,190 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $48,220 |
| Cook | $46,850 |
| Cook | $44,560 |
| Cook | $43,630 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $43,400 |
| Cook | $39,140 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $39,110 |
| Dishwasher | $37,380 |
| Bartender | $36,100 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food server make an hour in Santa Cruz?
The median hourly pay in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $18.20 ($37,860 a year).
Do food servers make more in Santa Cruz than the national average?
Yes: $37,860 against $35,360 nationally, 7% more.
How does Santa Cruz compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $39,010, so Santa Cruz pays 3% less.
Where does Santa Cruz rank for food server pay?
29 of 353 metro areas with data.
How much does a food server make starting out in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% make $35,470 or less a year; the top 10% make $50,560 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.