How much does a waiter and waitress make in Riverside?
$34,800a year
Median yearly pay for waiter and waitresss in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area. That is $16.73 an hour or $2,900 a month.
- Hourly
- $16.73
- Vs. national median
- -1%
- Rank among cities
- 166 of 392
- Jobs in the area
- 20,810
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $34,320Median: $34,800Highest 10%: $77,810
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,320 | $16.50 | |
| 25th | $34,320 | $16.50 | |
| Median | $34,800 | $16.73 | |
| 75th | $45,590 | $21.92 | |
| 90th | $77,810 | $37.41 |
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 |
| Stockton, CA | $34,460 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $34,320 |
| Chico, CA | $34,320 |
| El Centro, CA | $34,320 |
| Fresno, CA | $34,320 |
| Merced, CA | $34,320 |
| Redding, CA | $34,320 |
| Visalia, CA | $34,320 |
| Yuba City, CA | $34,320 |
Related jobs in Riverside
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $64,480 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $44,990 |
| Cook | $44,470 |
| Cook | $42,480 |
| Cook | $42,450 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $42,280 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $38,420 |
| Food Server | $37,120 |
| Cook | $37,040 |
| Dishwasher | $36,710 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make an hour in Riverside?
The median hourly pay in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area is $16.73 ($34,800 a year).
Do waiter and waitresss make more in Riverside than the national average?
No: $34,800 against $35,230 nationally, 1% less.
How does Riverside compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $36,080, so Riverside pays 4% less.
Where does Riverside rank for waiter and waitress pay?
166 of 392 metro areas with data.
How much does a waiter and waitress make starting out in Riverside?
The lowest-paid 10% make $34,320 or less a year; the top 10% make $77,810 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.