Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Waiter or Waitress Salary in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

In the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metropolitan area, waiters or waitresses earned a median annual wage of $37,000 ($17.79/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $35,200/year and the 90th was $70,700/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and California tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $31,447 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 113.6 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$37,000$17.79 per hour · $3,083 monthly
10th Percentile$35,200$16.92/hr base
25th Percentile$35,800$17.21/hr base
75th Percentile$40,900$19.66/hr base
90th Percentile$70,700$33.99/hr base

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-Home Pay Explorer

$37,000
$15,000$75,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$37,000
Net 85%
Fed 6%
CA 1%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$31,447After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,621Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,209Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate15%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$2,260 / yr
California state income tax$463 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,831 / yr

Waiters and Waitresses Wage Percentiles in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

Official survey estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Full-time calculations assume standard 2,080 annual working hours.

Wage Distribution for Waiters and Waitresses in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (CA)
10th Percentile$16.92/hr$2,933$35,200$30,073
25th Percentile$17.21/hr$2,983$35,800$30,531
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$17.79/hr$3,083$37,000$31,447
75th Percentile$19.66/hr$3,408$40,900$34,424
90th Percentile$33.99/hr$5,892$70,700$56,137

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$37,000 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$95,958Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index113.613.6% above national average
Individual vs Household Ratio38.6%of area median income

Compare waiters or waitresses salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in California:

Frequently Asked Questions About Waiters and Waitresses Pay in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

What is the median salary for waiters or waitresses in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?

The official BLS median annual wage for waiters or waitresses in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA is $37,000, which equates to approximately $3,083 per month or $17.79 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for waiters or waitresses in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?

The median hourly wage for waiters or waitresses in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA is $17.79 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $16.92/hour and one in ten earned more than $33.99/hour.

What is the pay range for waiters or waitresses in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?

BLS wage estimates for waiters or waitresses in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA span from $35,200 at the 10th percentile to $35,800 at the 25th, $40,900 at the 75th, and $70,700 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do waiters or waitresses take home after taxes in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?

On a median gross salary of $37,000, an estimated $31,447 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,209 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in California in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $5,553 (an effective rate of 15%).

How much do waiters or waitresses make per month in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?

On the median annual salary of $37,000, gross monthly income is $3,083. After federal, FICA, and California state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,621 per month (or $1,209 every two weeks).

Is $37,000 a good salary in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?

At $37,000, the median salary for waiters or waitresses is 38.6% of the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA median household income ($95,958). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 113.6, making regional consumer goods and services 13.6% more expensive than the U.S. average.