How much does a waiter and waitress make in Merced?
$34,320a year
Median yearly pay for waiter and waitresss in the Merced, CA metro area. That is $16.50 an hour or $2,860 a month.
- Hourly
- $16.50
- Vs. national median
- -3%
- Rank among cities
- 177 of 392
- Jobs in the area
- 560
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $34,320Median: $34,320Highest 10%: $51,110
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,320 | $16.50 | |
| 25th | $34,320 | $16.50 | |
| Median | $34,320 | $16.50 | |
| 75th | $35,100 | $16.88 | |
| 90th | $51,110 | $24.57 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for waiter and waitresss.
| San Jose, CA | $41,920 |
| San Francisco, CA | $38,860 |
| Napa, CA | $37,130 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $36,830 |
| Vallejo, CA | $36,610 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $35,930 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $35,850 |
| San Diego, CA | $35,850 |
| Salinas, CA | $35,540 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $35,260 |
| Hanford, CA | $35,160 |
| Sacramento, CA | $35,070 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $34,950 |
| Modesto, CA | $34,910 |
| Oxnard, CA | $34,910 |
| Riverside, CA | $34,800 |
| Stockton, CA | $34,460 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $34,320 |
| Chico, CA | $34,320 |
| El Centro, CA | $34,320 |
| Fresno, CA | $34,320 |
| Redding, CA | $34,320 |
| Visalia, CA | $34,320 |
| Yuba City, CA | $34,320 |
Related jobs in Merced
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $57,500 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $45,490 |
| Cook | $44,410 |
| Cook | $40,430 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $38,980 |
| Cook | $38,480 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $38,200 |
| Cook | $36,240 |
| Dishwasher | $35,210 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $34,720 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make an hour in Merced?
The median hourly pay in the Merced, CA metro area is $16.50 ($34,320 a year).
Do waiter and waitresss make more in Merced than the national average?
No: $34,320 against $35,230 nationally, 3% less.
How does Merced compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $36,080, so Merced pays 5% less.
Where does Merced rank for waiter and waitress pay?
177 of 392 metro areas with data.
How much does a waiter and waitress make starting out in Merced?
The lowest-paid 10% make $34,320 or less a year; the top 10% make $51,110 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.