Waiter and Waitress Salary in San Jose, CA
Waiters and Waitresses in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median $41,920 a year — 19% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $34,652 take-home, or $2,888 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in San Jose, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,850
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,599
- Medicare (1.45%)$608
- California income tax$666
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$545
- Take-home pay$34,652
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 San Jose, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,340 | $17.95 | $31,214 | $2,601 |
| 25th percentile | $39,300 | $18.89 | $32,685 | $2,724 |
| Median (50th) | $41,920 | $20.15 | $34,652 | $2,888 |
| 75th percentile | $44,560 | $21.42 | $36,633 | $3,053 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $97,730 | $46.99 | $71,453 | $5,954 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $41,920 buys in San Jose, CA
Prices in San Jose, CA are 10.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 2.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $34,652 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,381 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 less concentrated in San Jose, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.76), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
San Jose, CA ranks #47 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 |
| 47 | San Jose, CA | $41,920 | $34,652 | $31,381 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 148 metros →
About the job: waiters and waitresses
Take orders and serve food and beverages to patrons at tables in dining establishment.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.0% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Waiter and Waitress salaries elsewhere in California
- 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
- Santa Maria, CA — $35,260
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in San Jose, CA?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $41,920 a year, or about $20.15 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $39,300 and $44,560.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in San Jose, CA?
On the median $41,920 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $34,652 a year ($2,888 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,211 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Jose, CA a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 19% above the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 10.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,381 would in a typical U.S. city. San Jose, CA ranks #47 of 148 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in San Jose, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Jose, CA is $2,957 a month ($3,464 for two bedrooms) — 102% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Jose, CA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $55,520
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $51,880
- Cooks, Fast Food — $47,220
- Cooks, Restaurant — $47,170
- Food Preparation Worker — $45,580
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $44,570
- Dishwasher — $43,960
- Bartender — $42,270
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $41,710