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Waiters and Waitresses: California vs New York
On median pay alone, New York pays $10,940 a year more than California for this job. That does not settle which place leaves you better off, because state tax, housing and other costs still matter, and state tax is fully calculated here only for states with no wage income tax or a verified 2026 table in this build.
| California | New York | |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual salary | $36,080 | $47,020 |
| Mean annual salary | $44,600 | $54,750 |
| Median hourly wage | $17 | $23 |
| 25th to 75th percentile | $34,900 to $39,870 | $34,520 to $64,480 |
| Employment | $229,970 | $142,940 |
Waiters and Waitresses in California · Waiters and Waitresses in New York · Paycheck calculator