Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,240 a year or less, while the top 10% make $50,070 or more. The middle half of food servers, nonrestaurant in San Diego earn between $36,510 and $43,050.
- $35K10th
- $37K25th
- $38KMedian
- $43K75th
- $50K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $41,400 | $3,450 | $19.90 |
| Median | $38,260 | $3,188 | $18.39 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,510 | $3,042 | $17.55 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $43,050 | $3,588 | $20.70 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Food servers, nonrestaurant in San Diego earn 5% less than the California average ($43,580) and 15% more than the U.S. average ($36,140). At the median the gap is +8% against the U.S. median of $35,360.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $41,400 | $38,260 | $35,240 | $50,070 | 3,400 |
| California | $43,580 | $39,010 | $35,120 | $57,550 | 32,430 |
| United States | $36,140 | $35,360 | $28,030 | $46,120 | 293,900 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary after taxes in San Diego
On the average salary of $41,400, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $34,653 a year, or $2,888 a month and $1,333 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Diego a good place for food servers, nonrestaurant? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Diego area are 12% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.9), so the average $41,400 buys what about $37,002 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 22.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 14th of 24 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($50,590).
- San Jose$50,590
- San Francisco$48,600
- Napa$48,550
- Vallejo$46,710
- Sacramento$44,510
- Hanford$44,210
- Santa Rosa$43,510
- Los Angeles$42,740
- San Luis Obispo$42,460
- San Diego$41,400
Highest-paying cities for food servers, nonrestaurant
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($59,020).
- Kahului, HI$59,020
- San Jose, CA$50,590
- San Francisco, CA$48,600
- Napa, CA$48,550
- Vallejo, CA$46,710
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Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in San Diego: questions
How much do food servers, nonrestaurant make an hour in San Diego?
$19.91 an hour on average, and $18.39 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food servers, nonrestaurant salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,240 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,510, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food servers, nonrestaurant take-home pay in San Diego?
About $34,653 a year ($2,888 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $41,400. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do food servers, nonrestaurant earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% more than the U.S. average for this job ($36,140).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-3041; area San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.3%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.17, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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