Waiter and Waitress Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Waiters and Waitresses in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $35,850 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,096 take-home, or $2,508 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,122
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,223
- Medicare (1.45%)$520
- California income tax$423
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$466
- Take-home pay$30,096
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,380 | $16.53 | $28,993 | $2,416 |
| 25th percentile | $35,010 | $16.83 | $29,466 | $2,455 |
| Median (50th) | $35,850 | $17.24 | $30,096 | $2,508 |
| 75th percentile | $37,230 | $17.90 | $31,132 | $2,594 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,200 | $28.46 | $47,376 | $3,948 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,850 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $30,096 take-home pay has the buying power of $26,501 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Waiter and Waitress jobs are about as common in Los Angeles, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.93).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #105 of 148 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului, HI | $82,550 | $62,160 | $56,823 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $57,280 | $48,204 | $43,375 |
| 3 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $60,250 | $47,542 | $42,846 |
| 4 | Spokane, WA | $48,560 | $41,198 | $41,056 |
| 5 | Syracuse, NY | $47,640 | $38,483 | $40,195 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $54,780 | $42,232 | $40,060 |
| 7 | Albany, NY | $48,980 | $39,488 | $39,660 |
| 8 | Buffalo, NY | $46,580 | $37,689 | $39,323 |
| 105 | Los Angeles, CA | $35,850 | $30,096 | $26,501 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 148 metros →
Waiter and Waitress salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $41,920
- Bakersfield, CA — $34,320
- Santa Rosa, CA — $36,830
- Fresno, CA — $34,320
- San Francisco, CA — $38,860
- Sacramento, CA — $35,070
- Riverside, CA — $34,800
- Salinas, CA — $35,540
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $35,850 a year, or about $17.24 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,010 and $37,230.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $35,850 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $30,096 a year ($2,508 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $889 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $26,501 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #105 of 148 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 90% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Los Angeles, CA
- Chef and Head Cook — $69,990
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $46,970
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $45,400
- Cooks, Restaurant — $44,460
- Cooks, Short Order — $43,680
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $42,110
- Food Preparation Worker — $39,770
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $38,350
- Cooks, Fast Food — $38,000
- Dishwasher — $37,580
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $36,920
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — $36,810