Waiters and Waitresses pay range in Santa Cruz
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,400 a year or less, while the top 10% make $79,330 or more. The middle half of waiters and waitresses in Santa Cruz earn between $35,280 and $38,910.
- $34K10th
- $35K25th
- $36KMedian
- $39K75th
- $79K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $45,020 | $3,752 | $21.64 |
| Median | $35,930 | $2,994 | $17.27 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,280 | $2,940 | $16.96 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $38,910 | $3,242 | $18.71 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Waiters and Waitresses pay in Santa Cruz vs. California and the U.S.
Waiters and waitresses in Santa Cruz earn about the same as the California average ($44,600) and 12% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | $45,020 | $35,930 | $34,400 | $79,330 | 1,640 |
| 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 Santa Cruz
On the average salary of $45,020, a single filer in Santa Cruz takes home about $37,417 a year, or $3,118 a month and $1,439 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 Santa Cruz a good place for waiters and waitresses? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Santa Cruz area are 10% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 109.9), so the average $45,020 buys what about $40,966 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Cruz ($54,730). A typical home costs $1,157,157, or 25.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other California cities
Santa Cruz ranks 8th 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
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Waiters and Waitresses salary in Santa Cruz: questions
How much do waiters and waitresses make an hour in Santa Cruz?
$21.64 an hour on average, and $17.27 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level waiters and waitresses salary in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,400 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 Santa Cruz?
About $37,417 a year ($3,118 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $45,020. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do waiters and waitresses earn more in Santa Cruz than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% 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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA (42100). 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 1.14, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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