Waiters and Waitresses pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,820 a year or less, while the top 10% make $82,800 or more. The middle half of waiters and waitresses in San Diego earn between $35,280 and $37,020.
- $35K10th
- $35K25th
- $36KMedian
- $37K75th
- $83K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $47,700 | $3,975 | $22.93 |
| Median | $35,850 | $2,988 | $17.24 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,280 | $2,940 | $16.96 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,020 | $3,085 | $17.80 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Waiters and Waitresses pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Waiters and waitresses in San Diego earn 7% more than the California average ($44,600) and 19% more than the U.S. average ($40,060). At the median the gap is +2% against the U.S. median of $35,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $47,700 | $35,850 | $34,820 | $82,800 | 24,050 |
| California | $44,600 | $36,080 | $34,320 | $68,950 | 229,970 |
| United States | $40,060 | $35,230 | $18,100 | $64,720 | 2,270,910 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Waiters and Waitresses salary after taxes in San Diego
On the average salary of $47,700, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $39,452 a year, or $3,288 a month and $1,517 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% 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 waiters and waitresses? 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 $47,700 buys what about $42,632 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 19.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 2nd of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($52,010).
- San Jose$52,010
- San Diego$47,700
- San Francisco$46,460
- Salinas$45,820
- Riverside$45,660
- San Luis Obispo$45,180
- Napa$45,100
- Santa Cruz$45,020
- Sacramento$44,840
- Santa Rosa$43,890
Highest-paying cities for waiters and waitresses
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($87,210).
- Kahului, HI$87,210
- Seattle, WA$62,940
- Honolulu, HI$61,880
- Bremerton, WA$61,770
- Burlington, VT$61,070
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Waiters and Waitresses salary in San Diego: questions
How much do waiters and waitresses make an hour in San Diego?
$22.94 an hour on average, and $17.23 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level waiters and waitresses salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,820 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,280, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the waiters and waitresses take-home pay in San Diego?
About $39,452 a year ($3,288 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $47,700. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do waiters and waitresses earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 19% more than the U.S. average for this job ($40,060).
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 35-3031; area San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.6%.
- 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 1.07, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.