SOC 35-3031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Waiters and Waitresses — Los Angeles
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA · 10 metro areas compared
At $35,850, median pay for Waiters and Waitresses in Los Angeles, CA tracks the national median of $35,230 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $35,850, median pay for Waiters and Waitresses in Los Angeles, CA tracks the national median of $35,230 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $35,010 and $37,230. The lowest tenth earn under $34,380, while the highest tenth earn more than $59,200.
Employment stands at 85,210, or 13.6 jobs per thousand held locally. San Jose leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $41,920. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 734th of 740 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,380 | −2.4% |
| 25th | $35,010 | −0.6% |
| Median (50th) | $35,850 | +1.8% |
| 75th | $37,230 | +5.7% |
| 90th | $59,200 | +68.0% |
| Mean | $42,640 | +21.0% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose | $41,920 | 12,600 | |
| 2 | San Francisco | $38,860 | 29,080 | |
| 3 | Napa | $37,130 | 1,930 | |
| 4 | Santa Rosa | $36,830 | 3,670 | |
| 5 | Vallejo | $36,610 | 1,660 | |
| 6 | Santa Cruz | $35,930 | 1,640 | |
| 7 | San Diego | $35,850 | 24,050 | |
| 8 | Salinas | $35,540 | 3,100 | |
| 9 | Santa Maria | $35,260 | 3,540 | |
| 10 | Hanford | $35,160 | 380 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Los Angeles run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $35,850 buys what $32,385 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 8.1% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$35,850as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$32,385US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $35,850 a year, 1.8% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $34,380 to $59,200 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 85,210 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Jose, at $41,920.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Los Angeles, CA?
The median annual wage is $35,850, or $17.24 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $35,230, so pay in Los Angeles, CA is 1.8% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Los Angeles, CA earns more than $59,200 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $34,380 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in San Jose, at $41,920 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 85,210 jobs in this occupation in Los Angeles, CA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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