Waiters and Waitresses · SOC 35-3031
Waiters and Waitresses Salary in the North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area
Figures describe the North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area, a BLS-defined region outside metropolitan areas — not a single city or town.
Waiters and Waitresses in the North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area earned a median of $35,080 per year ($16.86 per hour) as of the May 2025 BLS OEWS estimates. Pay ranged from $34,320 at the 10th percentile to $53,580 at the 90th. BLS estimates 1,390 people work in this occupation in the area.
Pay distribution
Half of Waiters and Waitresses in the North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area earn more than $35,080 per year, half earn less; the middle half earn between $34,560 and $36,130.
| Wage | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual | $34,320 | $34,560 | $35,080 | $36,130 | $53,580 |
| Hourly | $16.50 | $16.62 | $16.86 | $17.37 | $25.76 |
A percentile is a cut point: 25% of workers in this occupation and area earn less than the 25th-percentile wage. The median is the 50th percentile — half earn less, half earn more.
How this area compares
- North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area$35,080 median for North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area; middle half earns $34,560 to $36,130
- Californiastate$36,080 median for California; middle half earns $34,900 to $39,870
- United Statesnational$35,230 median for United States; middle half earns $27,750 to $47,110
Bars span the 25th–75th percentile (the middle half of workers); the tick marks the median.
The median here is −3% vs California overall and about the same vs the U.S. median for this occupation.
Other metro areas in California
Metro areas in the same state with published May 2025 medians for waiters and waitresses, highest first. Areas without published estimates are not listed.
- North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan areathis page$35,080 median for North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area; middle half earns $34,560 to $36,130
- $41,920 median for San Jose metro area; middle half earns $39,300 to $44,560
- $38,860 median for San Francisco metro area; middle half earns $36,880 to $43,310
- $37,130 median for Napa metro area; middle half earns $36,010 to $39,560
- $36,830 median for Santa Rosa metro area; middle half earns $36,200 to $39,820
- $36,610 median for Vallejo metro area; middle half earns $35,780 to $39,480
- $35,930 median for Santa Cruz metro area; middle half earns $35,280 to $38,910
Bars span the 25th–75th percentile (the middle half of workers); the tick marks the median.
Keep exploring
Other occupations in the same SOC group with published medians here, largest employment first:
Highest-paying metro areas for waiters and waitressess · Highest-paying occupations in North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area
About this estimate
These figures are survey estimates from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program — modeled from employer reports collected over three years and benchmarked to May 2025. They describe what employers in this area currently pay across all industries, not what any individual worker will be offered.
Employment counts wage-and-salary jobs in the occupation (self-employed workers are excluded). Estimates carry sampling error; percentile wages are rounded by BLS. Some values are suppressed by BLS for confidentiality or quality — suppressed values appear here as “not published”, never as zero. Read the full methodology.
About this data. Estimates are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 release, retrieved from bls.gov/oes/tables.htm on July 24, 2026. OEWS estimates describe metropolitan/nonmetropolitan areas and states — not city limits — and are not designed for year-over-year comparisons. See BLS methodology, our plain-English methodology, and sources. CitySalaryData is independent and not affiliated with BLS.