Waiters and Waitresses Salary in San Francisco, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA

Median annual salary $37,360 +10.7% vs national
Median hourly $17.96
10th percentile $34,780
90th percentile $73,240
Employed locally 30,450
National median $33,760

Compare Waiters and Waitresses salary & buying power

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Waiters and Waitresses
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San Francisco, CA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $34,780
    25th
    $35,270
    50th (median)
    $37,360
    75th
    $42,360
    90th
    $73,240

    San Francisco economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $133,780 2023 • Census ACS
    Waiters and Waitresses salary vs area income 28% Median Waiters and Waitresses salary is 72% 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
    Napa, CA $37,090
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $37,040

    Related occupations in San Francisco, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $40,470
    Cooks, Restaurant $45,230
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $49,700
    Food Preparation Workers $39,660
    Bartenders $38,430
    Cooks, Fast Food $41,980

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Waiters and Waitresses make per hour in San Francisco?

    The median hourly wage for Waiters and Waitresses in San Francisco, CA is $17.96, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $36.01 or more per hour.

    Is San Francisco above or below average for Waiters and Waitresses salaries?

    The median Waiters and Waitresses salary in San Francisco, CA is 10.7% 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 San Francisco?

    Entry-level Waiters and Waitresses (10th percentile) earn around $34,780 per year in San Francisco, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $35,270.