The median annual wage for Waiters and Waitresses in California is $35,290 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $44,250.
Pay spans roughly $33,310 at the 10th percentile to $70,450 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $16.97 per hour. An estimated 243,300 people work as waiters and waitresses in California.
| Median (annual) | $35,290 |
| Mean (annual) | $44,250 |
| Median (hourly) | $16.97 |
| 10th percentile | $33,310 |
| 90th percentile | $70,450 |
| Employment | 243,300 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.