Waiter Salary in San Francisco, CA
Updated
The median waiter in the San Francisco area earns $38,860 a year ($18.68 an hour), 10% above the U.S. median ($35,230) and 8% above the California median ($36,080). Half of the 29,080 waiters there earn between $36,880 and $43,310.
Median $38,860
10th: $35,78090th: $74,900
| Annual pay | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $35,780 | $34,320 | $18,100 |
| 25th percentile | $36,880 | $34,900 | $27,750 |
| Median | $38,860 | $36,080 | $35,230 |
| 75th percentile | $43,310 | $39,870 | $47,110 |
| 90th percentile | $74,900 | $68,950 | $64,720 |
| Average | $46,460 | $44,600 | $40,060 |
| Jobs | 29,080 | 229,970 | 2,270,910 |
San Francisco, CA ranks 12th of the 50 largest U.S. metro areas for waiter pay. Highest: Seattle, WA ($57,280).
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Check my payWaiter pay in other cities
- San Jose, CA: $41,920
- Los Angeles, CA: $35,850
- San Diego, CA: $35,850
- Seattle, WA: $57,280
- Portland, OR: $54,780
- New York, NY: $47,610
- Phoenix, AZ: $47,530
- Buffalo, NY: $46,580
- All cities
Similar jobs in San Francisco, CA
- Fast Food Worker: $43,870
- Bartender: $39,670
- Restaurant Cook: $46,030
- Food Service Supervisor: $51,520
- Food Preparation Worker: $41,000
- All jobs in San Francisco, CA
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, published May 15, 2026
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, www.bls.gov/oes. BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov.