The average salary for a Waiter in Santa Ana is 38,738 $ per year on a 40-hour full-time equivalent, or 3,228 $ gross per month and 18.62 $ gross per hour. The reported full-time salary range is 20,889 $ to 62,667 $. The analysis is based on 29 salary reports from workers and employers in Santa Ana. Part-time salaries are proportionally converted to 40 weekly hours so the values are comparable.
| Date | Job title | Weekly hours | Reported gross/year | Normalized to 40h/year | Gross/month 40h | Gross/hour 40h | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05/21/2026 | Senior Waiter | 40.0 h | 60,000 $ | 60,000 $ | 5,000 $ | 28.85 $ | I'm a senior waiter at one of the area's top dining spots, working 40 hours/week. High-end clientele and consistent gratuities put me at the top end of server earnings here. |
| 03/05/2026 | Self-employed Catering Server / Owner | 30.0 h | 47,000 $ | 62,667 $ | 5,222 $ | 30.13 $ | I run a small freelance catering/server business and average about 30 hours/week. Being self-employed means higher per-hour rates but irregular scheduling and admin work. |
| 01/14/2026 | Shift Supervisor | 40.0 h | 50,000 $ | 50,000 $ | 4,167 $ | 24.04 $ | As a shift supervisor I work 40 hours/week and handle opening/closing responsibilities, discipline and training. I still serve tables but also have leadership duties. |
| 10/01/2025 | Banquet Server (part-time) | 24.0 h | 27,000 $ | 45,000 $ | 3,750 $ | 21.63 $ | I work part-time for banquet events, averaging 24 hours/week. Event-based work pays well per shift and includes generous event tips, which increases my yearly total. |
| 05/18/2025 | Part-time Brewery Server | 16.0 h | 18,000 $ | 45,000 $ | 3,750 $ | 21.63 $ | I work part-time about 16 hours/week at a local brewery. Pay is a combination of hourly and tips; I choose shorter shifts, so annual income is lower but predictable. |
| 01/27/2025 | Server (high-end bistro) | 40.0 h | 58,000 $ | 58,000 $ | 4,833 $ | 27.88 $ | I work full-time 40 hours/week at a high-end bistro and consistently get high tips from regulars and tourists. Experience and section management have increased my earnings. |
| 09/10/2024 | Senior Fine Dining Server | 40.0 h | 55,000 $ | 55,000 $ | 4,583 $ | 26.44 $ | I've been a senior server at an upscale restaurant for seven years, working 40 hours/week. My table assignments and clientele generate high tips, which raise my annual pay. |
| 04/22/2024 | Server (neighborhood bistro) | 36.0 h | 35,000 $ | 38,889 $ | 3,241 $ | 18.70 $ | I work about 36 hours/week at a busy neighborhood bistro. I'm mid-level with three years here; tips have improved as local demand has increased post-pandemic. |
| 11/30/2023 | Fine Dining Server | 40.0 h | 45,500 $ | 45,500 $ | 3,792 $ | 21.88 $ | I'm a full-time fine dining server (40 hrs/week) with six years' experience. Large parties and high-end clientele make tips a significant portion of my earnings. |
| 07/09/2023 | Server (gastropub) | 30.0 h | 20,500 $ | 27,333 $ | 2,278 $ | 13.14 $ | I work part-time around 30 hours/week at a mid-sized gastropub while in school. Pay is hourly plus varied tips depending on weekend volume. |
| 03/15/2023 | Banquet Captain | 42.0 h | 52,000 $ | 49,524 $ | 4,127 $ | 23.81 $ | As a banquet captain I manage floor teams during events and work about 42 hours/week. My compensation includes higher event tips and a supervisory stipend. |
| 11/23/2022 | Server (chain restaurant) | 38.0 h | 33,000 $ | 34,737 $ | 2,895 $ | 16.70 $ | I work full-time ~38 hours/week at a larger chain. Pay increases have been gradual; tips are pooled and somewhat predictable with steady shifts. |
| 08/05/2022 | Private Events Server (freelance) | 20.0 h | 24,000 $ | 48,000 $ | 4,000 $ | 23.08 $ | I'm a freelance server for private events, averaging about 20 hours/week. Higher hourly/tip rates for events let me earn more per hour than in a regular restaurant. |
| 02/20/2022 | Head Server / Expeditor | 44.0 h | 48,000 $ | 43,636 $ | 3,636 $ | 20.98 $ | I work as head server/expeditor with managerial duties and typically work about 44 hours/week. I help coordinate floor staff and handle customer escalations. |
| 12/01/2021 | Senior Server | 40.0 h | 42,000 $ | 42,000 $ | 3,500 $ | 20.19 $ | I'm a senior server at a busy upscale restaurant. I work full-time 40 hours/week and mentor new hires; I do not have formal management responsibilities. |
| 07/14/2021 | Server | 40.0 h | 36,000 $ | 36,000 $ | 3,000 $ | 17.31 $ | Full-time server here for four years, 40 hours/week. Tips are good on weekend nights which significantly boost my annual income. |
| 11/11/2020 | Fine Dining Server (part-time) | 28.0 h | 22,000 $ | 31,429 $ | 2,619 $ | 15.11 $ | I work part-time ~28 hours/week at a fine dining spot while finishing school. High per-shift tips compensate for fewer hours, and I've been in this role two years. |
| 05/30/2020 | Server (limited hours due to pandemic) | 18.0 h | 9,400 $ | 20,889 $ | 1,741 $ | 10.04 $ | During the pandemic I worked about 18 hours/week at a small restaurant; bookings were sparse and tips dropped dramatically. This reported figure reflects that year. |
| 12/29/2019 | Senior Server (long-term) | 40.0 h | 37,500 $ | 37,500 $ | 3,125 $ | 18.03 $ | I've been a full-time server here for over eight years, working 40 hours/week. My pay increased gradually over time with steady tips but no formal management role. |
| 09/17/2019 | Hotel Restaurant Server | 40.0 h | 34,000 $ | 34,000 $ | 2,833 $ | 16.35 $ | I'm a full-time server at a hotel restaurant with fairly consistent shifts (40 hrs/week). I have three years' experience and receive a stable tip split and benefits. |
| 03/20/2019 | Server (family restaurant) | 36.0 h | 28,500 $ | 31,667 $ | 2,639 $ | 15.22 $ | I work full-time (around 36 hours/week) at a family-owned place. Tips are modest compared to fine dining; I've been here five years and pay has slowly increased. |
| 10/03/2018 | Shift Lead - Server | 42.0 h | 38,000 $ | 36,190 $ | 3,016 $ | 17.40 $ | I serve as a shift lead and help with opening/closing procedures; I'm full-time and typically work 42 hours/week. I handle minor scheduling but am not a manager on payroll. |
| 07/19/2018 | Server (neighborhood cafe) | 20.0 h | 13,500 $ | 27,000 $ | 2,250 $ | 12.98 $ | I work part-time about 20 hours/week at a cafe while attending college. Tips are smaller here, and this figure reflects my limited hours and experience. |
| 04/15/2018 | Fine Dining Server | 40.0 h | 32,000 $ | 32,000 $ | 2,667 $ | 15.38 $ | I've worked full-time in fine dining for four years. My income includes a reliable tip pool and has allowed modest increases over time, but I don't manage others. |
| 12/09/2017 | Banquet Server | 30.0 h | 18,500 $ | 24,667 $ | 2,056 $ | 11.86 $ | I'm a banquet server working part-time about 30 hours per week for a small events company. Income fluctuates with event bookings; I've been with them three seasons. |
| 06/22/2017 | Bar Server | 25.0 h | 16,800 $ | 26,880 $ | 2,240 $ | 12.92 $ | I work part-time (~25 hours/week) behind the bar at a busy bar/restaurant and have been here 18 months. Tips vary week to week and affect my yearly total. |
| 11/05/2016 | Server | 40.0 h | 27,500 $ | 27,500 $ | 2,292 $ | 13.22 $ | I've been a full-time server here for two years at a medium-sized restaurant. I don't supervise staff; my income is hourly pay plus tips and has been steady. |
| 09/30/2016 | Server (small diner) | 40.0 h | 24,000 $ | 24,000 $ | 2,000 $ | 11.54 $ | I work full-time 40 hours/week at a small diner. Pay is modest and tips are lower than in upscale places, but hours and schedule are steady. |
| 08/12/2016 | Server (casual dining) | 20.0 h | 14,200 $ | 28,400 $ | 2,367 $ | 13.65 $ | I work part-time around 20 hours per week at a small neighborhood restaurant and have been here about a year. Tips make up most of my income and hours are stable but not guaranteed. |
The average salary for a Waiter in Santa Ana is 38,738 $ per year on a 40-hour basis, or 3,228 $ gross per month.
Part-time and full-time reports are normalized to a 40-hour workweek so salary reports can be compared fairly.
You can find more comparisons on the profession overview for Waiter and the city overview for Santa Ana. They show reported cities or jobs with their difference from the average.
Compare all cities for Waiter · Alle Jobs in Santa Ana vergleichen
