Waiters and Waitresses Salary in El Centro, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • El Centro, CA

Median annual salary $33,310 -1.3% vs national
Median hourly $16.02
10th percentile $33,280
90th percentile $60,080
Employed locally 520
National median $33,760

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Waiters and Waitresses
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El Centro, CA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $33,280
    25th
    $33,280
    50th (median)
    $33,310
    75th
    $34,200
    90th
    $60,080

    El Centro economic context

    Unemployment rate 18.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $56,393 2023 • Census ACS
    Waiters and Waitresses salary vs area income 59% Median Waiters and Waitresses salary is 41% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Waiters and Waitresses

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $71,920
    Burlington-South Burlington, VT $66,350
    Vermont $60,910
    Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area $60,840
    Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area $53,460
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $48,760

    Nearby metros — Waiters and Waitresses salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Utica-Rome, NY $47,380
    Ithaca, NY $46,610
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $40,620
    Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area $38,960
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $37,360
    Napa, CA $37,090

    Related occupations in El Centro, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $36,600
    Cooks, Fast Food $35,690
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $45,710
    Cooks, Restaurant $38,230
    Food Preparation Workers $35,780
    Dishwashers $35,210

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Waiters and Waitresses make per hour in El Centro?

    The median hourly wage for Waiters and Waitresses in El Centro, CA is $16.02, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $23.06 or more per hour.

    Is El Centro above or below average for Waiters and Waitresses salaries?

    The median Waiters and Waitresses salary in El Centro, CA is 1.3% below the national median of $33,760. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Waiters and Waitresses in El Centro?

    Entry-level Waiters and Waitresses (10th percentile) earn around $33,280 per year in El Centro, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $33,280.