salary$36,830 a year$18 an hour · median pay in the Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA area
Lower pay (bottom 10%)$35,350per year
Top pay (top 10%)$64,930per year
Jobs in the area3,670people work this job
Can a server (waiter/waitress) afford Santa Rosa?
Expensive. Rent of $2,393 a month takes 78.0% of the median server (waiter/waitress) salary. That is over the 30% rule, so many people in this job share housing or need a second income.
Server (Waiter/Waitress) pay in similar cities
Other jobs in Santa Rosa
Registered NurseNurse PractitionerLicensed Practical NurseNursing AssistantMedical AssistantPharmacistPhysician AssistantDental HygienistElementary School TeacherSoftware DeveloperComputer Systems AnalystAccountantMarket Research AnalystOperations Manager
Frequently asked questions
How much does a server (waiter/waitress) make in Santa Rosa, CA?
The median pay for a server (waiter/waitress) in the Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA area is $36,830 a year ($18 an hour). Most earn between $35,350 and $64,930.
Can a server (waiter/waitress) afford to live in Santa Rosa?
Typical rent of $2,393 a month takes 78.0% of the median server (waiter/waitress) salary, which we rate Expensive.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, for the Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA metro area.