How much does a waiter and waitress make in Santa Maria?
$35,260a year
Median yearly pay for waiter and waitresss in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area. That is $16.95 an hour or $2,938 a month.
- Hourly
- $16.95
- Vs. national median
- +0%
- Rank among cities
- 150 of 392
- Jobs in the area
- 3,540
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $34,320Median: $35,260Highest 10%: $64,060
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,320 | $16.50 | |
| 25th | $34,650 | $16.66 | |
| Median | $35,260 | $16.95 | |
| 75th | $36,400 | $17.50 | |
| 90th | $64,060 | $30.80 |
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 |
| 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 Maria
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $65,060 |
| Cook | $48,210 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $47,320 |
| Cook | $43,340 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $42,940 |
| Cook | $42,700 |
| Food Server | $38,740 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $38,470 |
| Cook | $38,340 |
| Dishwasher | $37,290 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make an hour in Santa Maria?
The median hourly pay in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area is $16.95 ($35,260 a year).
Do waiter and waitresss make more in Santa Maria than the national average?
Yes: $35,260 against $35,230 nationally, 0% more.
How does Santa Maria compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $36,080, so Santa Maria pays 2% less.
Where does Santa Maria rank for waiter and waitress pay?
150 of 392 metro areas with data.
How much does a waiter and waitress make starting out in Santa Maria?
The lowest-paid 10% make $34,320 or less a year; the top 10% make $64,060 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.