Waiters and Waitresses Salary in Sacramento, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA

Median annual salary $35,070 +3.9% vs national
Median hourly $16.86
10th percentile $33,280
90th percentile $79,050
Employed locally 14,840
National median $33,760

Compare Waiters and Waitresses salary & buying power

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Waiters and Waitresses
in
Sacramento, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $33,280
    25th
    $33,500
    50th (median)
    $35,070
    75th
    $44,290
    90th
    $79,050

    Sacramento economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.70% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $93,986 2023 • Census ACS
    Waiters and Waitresses salary vs area income 37% Median Waiters and Waitresses salary is 63% 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 Sacramento, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $37,650
    Cooks, Restaurant $43,600
    Cooks, Fast Food $36,380
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $46,590
    Bartenders $34,120
    Food Preparation Workers $38,200

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Waiters and Waitresses make per hour in Sacramento?

    The median hourly wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Sacramento, CA is $16.86, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $38.33 or more per hour.

    Is Sacramento above or below average for Waiters and Waitresses salaries?

    The median Waiters and Waitresses salary in Sacramento, CA is 3.9% above 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 Sacramento?

    Entry-level Waiters and Waitresses (10th percentile) earn around $33,280 per year in Sacramento, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $33,500.