Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Waiter or Waitress Salary in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA

In the Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA metropolitan area, waiters or waitresses earned a median annual wage of $35,100 ($16.88/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $33,400/year and the 90th was $67,100/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and California tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $29,996 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 107.8 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$35,100$16.88 per hour · $2,925 monthly
10th Percentile$33,400$16.06/hr base
25th Percentile$34,000$16.35/hr base
75th Percentile$38,800$18.65/hr base
90th Percentile$67,100$32.26/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

$35,100
$15,000$75,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$35,100
Net 85%
Fed 6%
CA 1%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$29,996After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,500Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,154Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate14.5%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$2,032 / yr
California state income tax$387 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,685 / yr

Waiters and Waitresses Wage Percentiles in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, 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 Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (CA)
10th Percentile$16.06/hr$2,783$33,400$28,698
25th Percentile$16.35/hr$2,833$34,000$29,156
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$16.88/hr$2,925$35,100$29,996
75th Percentile$18.65/hr$3,233$38,800$32,821
90th Percentile$32.26/hr$5,592$67,100$53,892

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$35,100 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$104,674Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index107.87.8% above national average
Individual vs Household Ratio33.5%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 Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA

What is the median salary for waiters or waitresses in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA?

The official BLS median annual wage for waiters or waitresses in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA is $35,100, which equates to approximately $2,925 per month or $16.88 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for waiters or waitresses in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA?

The median hourly wage for waiters or waitresses in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA is $16.88 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $16.06/hour and one in ten earned more than $32.26/hour.

What is the pay range for waiters or waitresses in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA?

BLS wage estimates for waiters or waitresses in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA span from $33,400 at the 10th percentile to $34,000 at the 25th, $38,800 at the 75th, and $67,100 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do waiters or waitresses take home after taxes in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA?

On a median gross salary of $35,100, an estimated $29,996 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,154 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in California in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $5,104 (an effective rate of 14.5%).

How much do waiters or waitresses make per month in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA?

On the median annual salary of $35,100, gross monthly income is $2,925. After federal, FICA, and California state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,500 per month (or $1,154 every two weeks).

Is $35,100 a good salary in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA?

At $35,100, the median salary for waiters or waitresses is 33.5% of the Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA median household income ($104,674). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 107.8, making regional consumer goods and services 7.8% more expensive than the U.S. average.