Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Waiter or Waitress Salary in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA

In the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metropolitan area, waiters or waitresses earned a median annual wage of $34,700 ($16.68/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $33,000/year and the 90th was $66,300/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and California tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $29,691 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 106.4 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$34,700$16.68 per hour · $2,892 monthly
10th Percentile$33,000$15.87/hr base
25th Percentile$33,600$16.15/hr base
75th Percentile$38,300$18.41/hr base
90th Percentile$66,300$31.88/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

$34,700
$15,000$70,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$34,700
Net 86%
Fed 6%
CA 1%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$29,691After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,474Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,142Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate14.4%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$1,984 / yr
California state income tax$371 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,655 / yr

Waiters and Waitresses Wage Percentiles in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, 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 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (CA)
10th Percentile$15.87/hr$2,750$33,000$28,393
25th Percentile$16.15/hr$2,800$33,600$28,851
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$16.68/hr$2,892$34,700$29,691
75th Percentile$18.41/hr$3,192$38,300$32,439
90th Percentile$31.88/hr$5,525$66,300$53,373

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$34,700 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$89,662Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index106.46.4% above national average
Individual vs Household Ratio38.7%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 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA

What is the median salary for waiters or waitresses in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA?

The official BLS median annual wage for waiters or waitresses in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA is $34,700, which equates to approximately $2,892 per month or $16.68 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for waiters or waitresses in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA?

The median hourly wage for waiters or waitresses in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA is $16.68 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $15.87/hour and one in ten earned more than $31.88/hour.

What is the pay range for waiters or waitresses in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA?

BLS wage estimates for waiters or waitresses in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA span from $33,000 at the 10th percentile to $33,600 at the 25th, $38,300 at the 75th, and $66,300 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do waiters or waitresses take home after taxes in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA?

On a median gross salary of $34,700, an estimated $29,691 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,142 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in California in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $5,009 (an effective rate of 14.4%).

How much do waiters or waitresses make per month in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA?

On the median annual salary of $34,700, gross monthly income is $2,892. After federal, FICA, and California state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,474 per month (or $1,142 every two weeks).

Is $34,700 a good salary in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA?

At $34,700, the median salary for waiters or waitresses is 38.7% of the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA median household income ($89,662). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 106.4, making regional consumer goods and services 6.4% more expensive than the U.S. average.