Salaries › Waiter / Waitress › California
Waiter / Waitress Salary in California (2026)
$17.35 per hour · take-home ≈ $30,585/year ($2,549/month) for a single filer
Waiter / Waitress pay range in California
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $34,320 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $34,900 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $36,080 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $39,870 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $68,950 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 229,970 Waiter / Waitress jobs in California (occupation code 35-3031, “Waiters and Waitresses”).
Gross vs. take-home in California
A median Waiter / Waitress salary of $36,080 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus California state income tax, a single filer keeps about $30,585 — an effective tax rate of 15.2%.
| Gross (median) | $36,080 |
| Federal income tax | −$2,150 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,760 |
| California state income tax | −$586 |
| Take-home (annual) | $30,585 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,549 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free California paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Waiter / Waitress make in California?
- The median Waiter / Waitress salary in California is $36,080 per year ($17.35 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $34,900 and $39,870.
- What is the take-home pay for a Waiter / Waitress in California?
- On the median salary of $36,080, a single filer in California takes home about $30,585 per year ($2,549 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 15.2%.
- How many Waiter / Waitress jobs are there in California?
- BLS counts 229,970 Waiter / Waitress jobs in California in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Waiter / Waitresss
Other salaries in California
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified California state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for California.