How much does a waiter and waitress make in Santa Cruz?
$35,930a year
Median yearly pay for waiter and waitresss in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area. That is $17.27 an hour or $2,994 a month.
- Hourly
- $17.27
- Vs. national median
- +2%
- Rank among cities
- 132 of 392
- Jobs in the area
- 1,640
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $34,400Median: $35,930Highest 10%: $79,330
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,400 | $16.54 | |
| 25th | $35,280 | $16.96 | |
| Median | $35,930 | $17.27 | |
| 75th | $38,910 | $18.71 | |
| 90th | $79,330 | $38.14 |
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 |
| 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 Santa Cruz
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $59,190 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $48,220 |
| Cook | $46,850 |
| Cook | $44,560 |
| Cook | $43,630 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $43,400 |
| Cook | $39,140 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $39,110 |
| Food Server | $37,860 |
| Dishwasher | $37,380 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make an hour in Santa Cruz?
The median hourly pay in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $17.27 ($35,930 a year).
Do waiter and waitresss make more in Santa Cruz than the national average?
Yes: $35,930 against $35,230 nationally, 2% more.
How does Santa Cruz compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $36,080, so Santa Cruz pays 0% more.
Where does Santa Cruz rank for waiter and waitress pay?
132 of 392 metro areas with data.
How much does a waiter and waitress make starting out in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% make $34,400 or less a year; the top 10% make $79,330 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.