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Waiters and Waitresses salary in Chula Vista, CA

Waiters and Waitresses in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metropolitan area earn a median of $35,850 a year, an average of $47,700. About 24,050 people work in this occupation there. Figures are from the May 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS).

Waiters and Waitresses pay at a glance

Annual median wage
$35,850
Half earn more, half earn less
Annual mean wage
$47,700
Pulled up by top earners
10th percentile
$34,820
Bottom of the range
90th percentile
$82,800
Top of the range
People employed
24,050
In Chula Vista metro area
Rent share of median wage
71.0%
Median rent ÷ median wage

What this wage buys in Chula Vista

Rent from the ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, compared with the wage above

Median gross rent
$2,122
per month, in Chula Vista, CA
Income needed for median rent
$84,900
Keeps rent at 30% of gross pay
Median waiters and waitresses wage
$35,850
57.8% below income needed for median rent
Rent as share of this wage
71.0%
12 months rent ÷ median wage
City median household income
$105,173
All households, not one occupation

Occupations are not paid the same everywhere, and this page does not explain why. It reports what the survey measured for the Chula Vista area. Read the Chula Vista, CA cost of living page for rent, income and the price level, or the methodology for how the numbers are compiled.

Waiters and Waitresses pay in other cities

Median annual wage, same occupation, same survey

Madison, WI
-13.8%
Median $30,910
Mean $38,450
Employed 5,130
Buffalo, NY
+29.9%
Median $46,580
Mean $54,310
Employed 7,990
Chandler, AZ
+32.6%
Median $47,530
Mean $53,370
Employed 39,920
North Las Vegas, NV
-24.4%
Median $27,110
Mean $38,200
Employed 36,160
Reno, NV
-28.3%
Median $25,700
Mean $29,760
Employed 4,220
Toledo, OH
+0.8%
Median $36,140
Mean $41,030
Employed 4,600
Fort Wayne, IN
-20.1%
Median $28,650
Mean $30,730
Employed 3,150
Durham, NC
-1.7%
Median $35,230
Mean $38,040
Employed 3,560

See waiters and waitresses pay in every covered city.

Take-home pay calculator

Estimate your net pay after federal, state, and FICA taxes. Adjust filing status and allowances for your situation.

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Gross annual income $35,850 / year
$35,850
Federal income tax 2024 brackets, Single filing
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State income tax California (CA)
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FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.65% up to wage base
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Pre-tax deductions 401(k), HSA, etc.
$0
Take-home pay (annual) After all taxes
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Take-home per paycheck Monthly
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Effective tax rate Total tax ÷ gross income
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Estimates use 2024 federal tax brackets, FICA rates (6.2% SS up to $168,600, 1.45% Medicare + 0.9% >$200k), and state rates from Tax Foundation. Does not include local taxes, AMT, or tax credits. Consult a tax professional for actual liability.

Definitions used on this page

Annual median wage
The wage that half of the people in this occupation earn more than and half earn less than, for one year of work.
Annual mean wage
The average of all reported wages. It is higher than the median when a few very high earners pull it up.
Percentiles
The 10th percentile is the wage below which 10% of workers fall; the 90th is the wage above which only 10% rise. The gap between them shows how wide the pay range is.
Employment
The estimated number of jobs in this occupation in the metropolitan area, not the number of residents who hold it.

Sources and limits

Wages describe the metropolitan area, while rent and income describe the city boundaries. The two areas do not cover exactly the same ground. Wages are also averaged across a year and across every industry, so a specific employer can differ widely from the median shown here.