How much does a waiter and waitress make in San Diego?
$35,850a year
Median yearly pay for waiter and waitresss in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $17.24 an hour or $2,988 a month.
- Hourly
- $17.24
- Vs. national median
- +2%
- Rank among cities
- 134 of 392
- Jobs in the area
- 24,050
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $34,820Median: $35,850Highest 10%: $82,800
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,820 | $16.74 | |
| 25th | $35,280 | $16.96 | |
| Median | $35,850 | $17.24 | |
| 75th | $37,020 | $17.80 | |
| 90th | $82,800 | $39.81 |
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 |
| 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 |
| Merced, CA | $34,320 |
| Redding, CA | $34,320 |
| Visalia, CA | $34,320 |
| Yuba City, CA | $34,320 |
Related jobs in San Diego
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $60,600 |
| Cook | $47,100 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $46,980 |
| Cook | $46,440 |
| Cook | $42,450 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $42,190 |
| Cook | $38,870 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $38,780 |
| Dishwasher | $38,530 |
| Food Server | $38,260 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make an hour in San Diego?
The median hourly pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $17.24 ($35,850 a year).
Do waiter and waitresss make more in San Diego than the national average?
Yes: $35,850 against $35,230 nationally, 2% more.
How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $36,080, so San Diego pays 1% less.
Where does San Diego rank for waiter and waitress pay?
134 of 392 metro areas with data.
How much does a waiter and waitress make starting out in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% make $34,820 or less a year; the top 10% make $82,800 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.