Waiter and Waitress Salary in San Diego, CA
Waiters and Waitresses in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, 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 San Diego, 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
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,820 | $16.74 | $29,323 | $2,444 |
| 25th percentile | $35,280 | $16.96 | $29,668 | $2,472 |
| Median (50th) | $35,850 | $17.24 | $30,096 | $2,508 |
| 75th percentile | $37,020 | $17.80 | $30,974 | $2,581 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $82,800 | $39.81 | $62,533 | $5,211 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,850 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $30,096 take-home pay has the buying power of $26,899 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 San Diego, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.07).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #236 of 375 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 | Burlington, VT | $61,620 | $50,061 | $49,591 |
| 3 | Bellingham, WA | $56,700 | $47,738 | $46,198 |
| 4 | Bremerton, WA | $55,270 | $46,589 | $44,116 |
| 5 | Mount Vernon, WA | $53,060 | $44,814 | $43,745 |
| 6 | Yakima, WA | $49,060 | $41,600 | $43,539 |
| 7 | Kennewick, WA | $51,460 | $43,528 | $43,494 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $57,280 | $48,204 | $43,375 |
| 236 | San Diego, CA | $35,850 | $30,096 | $26,899 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 375 metros →
Waiter and Waitress salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $41,920
- El Centro, CA — $34,320
- Merced, CA — $34,320
- Visalia, CA — $34,320
- Redding, CA — $34,320
- Bakersfield, CA — $34,320
- Chico, CA — $34,320
- Santa Rosa, CA — $36,830
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in San Diego, CA?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, 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 $35,280 and $37,020.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in San Diego, 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 San Diego, 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 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $26,899 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #236 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 98% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- Chef and Head Cook — $60,600
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $47,100
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $46,980
- Cooks, Restaurant — $46,440
- Cooks, Fast Food — $42,450
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $42,190
- Food Preparation Worker — $38,780
- Dishwasher — $38,530
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $38,260
- Cooks, Short Order — $37,300
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — $36,330
- Bartender — $36,260