How much does a waiter and waitress make in San Francisco?
$38,860a year
Median yearly pay for waiter and waitresss in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area. That is $18.68 an hour or $3,238 a month.
- Hourly
- $18.68
- Vs. national median
- +10%
- Rank among cities
- 61 of 392
- Jobs in the area
- 29,080
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $35,780Median: $38,860Highest 10%: $74,900
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,780 | $17.20 | |
| 25th | $36,880 | $17.73 | |
| Median | $38,860 | $18.68 | |
| 75th | $43,310 | $20.82 | |
| 90th | $74,900 | $36.01 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for waiter and waitresss.
| San Jose, CA | $41,920 |
| 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 |
| Merced, CA | $34,320 |
| Redding, CA | $34,320 |
| Visalia, CA | $34,320 |
| Yuba City, CA | $34,320 |
Related jobs in San Francisco
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $68,970 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $51,520 |
| Cook | $49,140 |
| Cook | $46,670 |
| Cook | $46,030 |
| Cook | $45,790 |
| Food Server | $44,710 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $43,870 |
| Cook | $42,860 |
| Dishwasher | $42,100 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make an hour in San Francisco?
The median hourly pay in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $18.68 ($38,860 a year).
Do waiter and waitresss make more in San Francisco than the national average?
Yes: $38,860 against $35,230 nationally, 10% more.
How does San Francisco compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $36,080, so San Francisco pays 8% more.
Where does San Francisco rank for waiter and waitress pay?
61 of 392 metro areas with data.
How much does a waiter and waitress make starting out in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% make $35,780 or less a year; the top 10% make $74,900 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.