SOC 35-3031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Waiters and Waitresses — Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA · 10 metro areas compared
At $36,830, median pay for Waiters and Waitresses in Santa Rosa, CA tracks the national median of $35,230 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $36,830, median pay for Waiters and Waitresses in Santa Rosa, CA tracks the national median of $35,230 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $36,200 and $39,820. The lowest tenth earn under $35,350, while the highest tenth earn more than $64,930.
The area has 3,670 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.22 — 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 418th of 419 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,350 | +0.3% |
| 25th | $36,200 | +2.8% |
| Median (50th) | $36,830 | +4.5% |
| 75th | $39,820 | +13.0% |
| 90th | $64,930 | +84.3% |
| Mean | $43,890 | +24.6% |
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 | Vallejo | $36,610 | 1,660 | |
| 5 | Santa Cruz | $35,930 | 1,640 | |
| 6 | Los Angeles | $35,850 | 85,210 | |
| 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 Santa Rosa run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $36,830 buys what $33,270 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 5.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$36,830as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$33,270US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $36,830 a year, 4.5% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $35,350 to $64,930 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 3,670 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 Santa Rosa, CA?
The median annual wage is $36,830, or $17.71 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 Santa Rosa, CA is 4.5% 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 Santa Rosa, CA earns more than $64,930 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $35,350 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 3,670 jobs in this occupation in Santa Rosa, 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