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Food Servers, Nonrestaurant average salary by city in California
- San Jose$50,590
- San Francisco$48,600
- Napa$48,550
- Vallejo$46,710
- Sacramento$44,510
- Hanford$44,210
- Santa Rosa$43,510
- Los Angeles$42,740
- San Luis Obispo$42,460
- Salinas$42,430
- Santa Maria$42,330
- Oxnard$41,530
- Stockton$41,480
- San Diego$41,400
- Santa Cruz$41,170
- Riverside$40,930
- Modesto$40,170
- Bakersfield$40,150
- Yuba City$39,970
- Fresno$39,910
- Chico$39,600
- Visalia$37,760
- El Centro$37,650
- Redding$37,110
Pay, take-home pay and cost of living
| City | Average | Median | 25th pct. | Take-home* | Cost of living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose | $50,590 | $46,210 | $43,090 | $41,601 | 110 |
| San Francisco | $48,600 | $44,710 | $41,170 | $40,122 | 116 |
| Napa | $48,550 | $41,850 | $37,050 | $40,084 | 113 |
| Vallejo | $46,710 | $38,910 | $36,940 | $38,707 | 108 |
| Sacramento | $44,510 | $38,460 | $36,590 | $37,028 | 107 |
| Hanford | $44,210 | $45,030 | $37,120 | $36,799 | 102 |
| Santa Rosa | $43,510 | $40,180 | $37,970 | $36,264 | 108 |
| Los Angeles | $42,740 | $38,350 | $36,490 | $35,676 | 114 |
| San Luis Obispo | $42,460 | $38,150 | $36,440 | $35,463 | 109 |
| Salinas | $42,430 | $38,660 | $36,060 | $35,440 | 109 |
| Santa Maria | $42,330 | $38,740 | $36,700 | $35,363 | 109 |
| Oxnard | $41,530 | $37,480 | $35,990 | $34,752 | 111 |
| Stockton | $41,480 | $37,380 | $35,570 | $34,714 | 105 |
| San Diego | $41,400 | $38,260 | $36,510 | $34,653 | 112 |
| Santa Cruz | $41,170 | $37,860 | $37,460 | $34,478 | 110 |
| Riverside | $40,930 | $37,120 | $35,190 | $34,294 | 106 |
| Modesto | $40,170 | $38,010 | $36,140 | $33,714 | 104 |
| Bakersfield | $40,150 | $37,140 | $34,720 | $33,699 | 101 |
| Yuba City | $39,970 | $37,660 | $35,550 | $33,561 | 104 |
| Fresno | $39,910 | $36,770 | $34,840 | $33,516 | 102 |
| Chico | $39,600 | $37,400 | $34,980 | $33,279 | 101 |
| Visalia | $37,760 | $35,680 | $34,730 | $31,874 | 100 |
| El Centro | $37,650 | $35,590 | $34,320 | $31,790 | 95 |
| Redding | $37,110 | $35,740 | $34,350 | $31,378 | 101 |
*Average salary after federal and state taxes for a single filer; California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included. Cost of living: BEA price parity, U.S. = 100.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in other states
More about pay in California
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-3041.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
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