SOC 35-3031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Waiters and Waitresses — Merced
Merced, CA · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage here is $34,320 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $35,230.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage here is $34,320 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $35,230. Half of workers earn between $34,320 and $35,100. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $34,320 and the ninetieth at $51,110.
The area has 560 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.48 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. 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 270th of 272 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,320 | −2.6% |
| 25th | $34,320 | −2.6% |
| Median (50th) | $34,320 | −2.6% |
| 75th | $35,100 | −0.4% |
| 90th | $51,110 | +45.1% |
| Mean | $38,610 | +9.6% |
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 | Los Angeles | $35,850 | 85,210 | |
| 8 | San Diego | $35,850 | 24,050 | |
| 9 | Salinas | $35,540 | 3,100 | |
| 10 | Santa Maria | $35,260 | 3,540 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Merced run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $34,320 buys what $31,003 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 12.0% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$34,320as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$31,003US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $34,320 a year, 2.6% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $34,320 to $51,110 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 560 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 Merced, CA?
The median annual wage is $34,320, or $16.50 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 Merced, CA is 2.6% lower. 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 Merced, CA earns more than $51,110 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $34,320 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 560 jobs in this occupation in Merced, 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.
Explore related data