How Much Do Waiters and Waitresses Make in California?
Median wage from BLS May 2025 — and the after-tax number the salary sites skip. Tax year 2026.
Quick answer
According to payandtaxes.com's analysis of BLS May 2025 data and 2026 tax law, the median Waiters and Waitresses in California earns $36,080 per year and takes home $30,738 ($2,561/month) — a keep-rate of 85.2%, with 229,970 employed in the state.
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| Gross pay | $3,006.67 |
| Federal income tax | $179.13 |
| Social Security | $186.41 |
| Medicare | $43.60 |
| California state income tax | $36.04 |
| You keep | $2,561.48 |
How much do Waiters and Waitresses make in California?
The median Waiters and Waitresses in California earns $36,080 per year (BLS May 2025), about $17.35 per hour.
What is that after taxes?
$36,080 gross in California keeps $30,738 after federal income tax ($2,150), FICA ($2,760) and state income tax ($433) — $2,561 per month, a 85.2% keep-rate.
How does California compare to the national median for Waiters and Waitresses?
The California median is $850 above the national median of $35,230.
Which state pays Waiters and Waitresses the most?
Hawaii has the highest median gross for Waiters and Waitresses at $62,390 — but compare take-home, not gross: state taxes change the order.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in every state · California paycheck calculator · California minimum wage