San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Waiter or Waitress Salary in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA

In the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metropolitan area, waiters or waitresses earned a median annual wage of $37,700 ($18.13/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $35,800/year and the 90th was $72,000/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and California tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $31,981 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 115.6 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$37,700$18.13 per hour · $3,142 monthly
10th Percentile$35,800$17.21/hr base
25th Percentile$36,400$17.50/hr base
75th Percentile$41,600$20.00/hr base
90th Percentile$72,000$34.62/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

$37,700
$15,000$80,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$37,700
Net 85%
Fed 6%
CA 1%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$31,981After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,665Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,230Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate15.2%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$2,344 / yr
California state income tax$491 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,884 / yr

Waiters and Waitresses Wage Percentiles in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, 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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (CA)
10th Percentile$17.21/hr$2,983$35,800$30,531
25th Percentile$17.50/hr$3,033$36,400$30,989
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$18.13/hr$3,142$37,700$31,981
75th Percentile$20.00/hr$3,467$41,600$34,959
90th Percentile$34.62/hr$6,000$72,000$56,947

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$37,700 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$136,027Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index115.615.6% above national average
Individual vs Household Ratio27.7%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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA

What is the median salary for waiters or waitresses in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?

The official BLS median annual wage for waiters or waitresses in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA is $37,700, which equates to approximately $3,142 per month or $18.13 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for waiters or waitresses in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?

The median hourly wage for waiters or waitresses in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA is $18.13 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $17.21/hour and one in ten earned more than $34.62/hour.

What is the pay range for waiters or waitresses in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?

BLS wage estimates for waiters or waitresses in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA span from $35,800 at the 10th percentile to $36,400 at the 25th, $41,600 at the 75th, and $72,000 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do waiters or waitresses take home after taxes in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?

On a median gross salary of $37,700, an estimated $31,981 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,230 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in California in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $5,719 (an effective rate of 15.2%).

How much do waiters or waitresses make per month in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?

On the median annual salary of $37,700, gross monthly income is $3,142. After federal, FICA, and California state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,665 per month (or $1,230 every two weeks).

Is $37,700 a good salary in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?

At $37,700, the median salary for waiters or waitresses is 27.7% of the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA median household income ($136,027). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 115.6, making regional consumer goods and services 15.6% more expensive than the U.S. average.