Waiters and Waitresses in California
Is California a good place for you to work as a Waiter or Waitress?
You’re in luck! Jobs for Waiters and Waitresses in California are projected to grow and these jobs tend to pay higher than average.
-
Projected employment for Waiters and Waitresses in California is growing faster than average.
-
Waiters and Waitresses in California earn lower salaries than the typical U.S. wage earner.
Featured schools near , edit
How Many Waiters and Waitresses Work in California?
286,930 people worked as Waiters and Waitresses in 2018 in this state.
There were 285,470 Waiters and Waitresses employed in this state in 2017.
That’s growth of 1,460 jobs between 2017 and 2018.
The typical state has 34,020 Waiters and Waitresses working in it, which means California has more Waiters and Waitresses than average.
Job Projections for California
Jobs for Waiters and Waitresses in this state are growing at a rate of 12.8% which is faster than the nationwide estimated projection of 7.0%.
California Annual Job Openings
The BLS estimates 60,310 annual job openings, and a total of 320,600 jobs for California Waiters and Waitresses in 2026.
Nationwide, the prediction is 522,700 annual jobs and 2,783,000 total jobs in 2026.
What do Waiters and Waitresses Make in California?
In 2018 wages for Waiters and Waitresses ranged from $22,370 to $44,540 with $25,090 being the median annual salary.
Broken down to an hourly rate, workers in this field made anywhere from $10.75 to $21.41. The median hourly rate was $12.06.
Workers in this field were paid a median of $12.07 an hour in 2017.
The hourly rate declined by $0.01.
The median salary in California is higher than the nationwide median salary.
Top California Metros for Waiters and Waitresses
The table below shows some of the metros in this state with the most Waiters and Waitresses.
| Metro | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 105,750 | $25,030 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | 42,870 | $29,630 |
| San Diego-Carlsbad, CA | 30,980 | $25,250 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 23,500 | $23,910 |
| Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA | 15,270 | $24,600 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 15,000 | $26,690 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 6,120 | $24,160 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | 5,050 | $25,160 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 4,760 | $24,880 |
| Fresno, CA | 4,210 | $24,680 |
| Salinas, CA | 3,800 | $24,030 |
| Bakersfield, CA | 3,450 | $24,070 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA | 3,230 | $24,250 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 2,930 | $24,400 |
| Modesto, CA | 2,540 | $23,830 |
| Napa, CA | 2,170 | $25,260 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 2,050 | $25,270 |
| Vallejo-Fairfield, CA | 1,940 | $27,030 |
| Chico, CA | 1,290 | $23,720 |
| Visalia-Porterville, CA | 1,270 | $24,140 |
| Redding, CA | 1,020 | $24,010 |
| El Centro, CA | 640 | $24,010 |
| Merced, CA | 540 | $23,870 |
| Madera, CA | 510 | $24,590 |
| Yuba City, CA | 420 | $24,050 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | 350 | $25,020 |
Top States for Waiters and Waitresses Employment
The table below shows the states where most Waiters and Waitresses work.
| State | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| California | 286,930 | $25,090 |
| Texas | 216,670 | $19,210 |
| Florida | 211,860 | $19,620 |
| New York | 167,250 | $28,410 |
| Pennsylvania | 98,970 | $22,850 |
| Ohio | 94,720 | $19,490 |
| Illinois | 83,910 | $19,410 |
| North Carolina | 82,600 | $19,140 |
| Georgia | 81,920 | $18,500 |
| Michigan | 80,880 | $20,020 |
| Virginia | 72,420 | $20,030 |
| Massachusetts | 66,250 | $27,020 |
| New Jersey | 58,820 | $25,480 |
| Washington | 54,770 | $27,720 |
| Tennessee | 53,200 | $18,290 |
| Minnesota | 50,490 | $22,360 |
| Colorado | 50,390 | $21,230 |
| Indiana | 49,530 | $19,210 |
| Arizona | 48,830 | $23,370 |
| Missouri | 48,060 | $19,080 |
Below are the states where Waiters and Waitresses get paid the most:
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $48,860 |
| Vermont | $31,880 |
| District of Columbia | $30,240 |
| New York | $28,410 |
| Washington | $27,720 |
| Massachusetts | $27,020 |
| New Jersey | $25,480 |
| California | $25,090 |
| Oregon | $24,130 |
| Rhode Island | $23,980 |
References
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
- College Factual
- National Center for Education Statistics
- O*NET Online
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Schools
Request Info
|
Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs. Learn More > |
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.