How much does a waiter and waitress make in San Jose?
$41,920a year
Median yearly pay for waiter and waitresss in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area. That is $20.15 an hour or $3,493 a month.
- Hourly
- $20.15
- Vs. national median
- +19%
- Rank among cities
- 52 of 392
- Jobs in the area
- 12,600
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $37,340Median: $41,920Highest 10%: $97,730
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,340 | $17.95 | |
| 25th | $39,300 | $18.89 | |
| Median | $41,920 | $20.15 | |
| 75th | $44,560 | $21.42 | |
| 90th | $97,730 | $46.99 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for waiter and waitresss.
| 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 |
| Merced, CA | $34,320 |
| Redding, CA | $34,320 |
| Visalia, CA | $34,320 |
| Yuba City, CA | $34,320 |
Related jobs in San Jose
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $79,020 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $55,520 |
| Cook | $51,880 |
| Cook | $47,220 |
| Cook | $47,170 |
| Food Server | $46,210 |
| Cook | $45,990 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $45,580 |
| Cook | $44,740 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $44,720 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make an hour in San Jose?
The median hourly pay in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $20.15 ($41,920 a year).
Do waiter and waitresss make more in San Jose than the national average?
Yes: $41,920 against $35,230 nationally, 19% more.
How does San Jose compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $36,080, so San Jose pays 16% more.
Where does San Jose rank for waiter and waitress pay?
52 of 392 metro areas with data.
How much does a waiter and waitress make starting out in San Jose?
The lowest-paid 10% make $37,340 or less a year; the top 10% make $97,730 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.