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Waitress Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

IHOP

Waiter/Waitress

Daly City, CA

$15.53/hr

... Waitress: Taking orders and delivering food and beverages. Helping guests with menu recommendations. Providing exceptional customer experience. Waiter/Waitress Our restaurant is looking for a waiter ...

California Grill

Waiter/Waitress

Whittier, CA

$15/hr

... Waitress: Taking orders and delivering food and beverages. Helping guests with menu recommendations. Providing exceptional customer experience. Waiter/Waitress Our restaurant is looking for a waiter ...

La Fontaine Restaurant

Waitress/Waiter

Walnut Creek, CA

$16 - $18/hr

... Waitress / Wait staff with relevant experience. This is a very important role for us and we rely heavily on our serving staff. They manage the pulse of the dining room and ensure patrons have a ...

Sfo

WAITER/WAITRESS

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$23.75/hr

... WAITRESS positions. * Location : United Polaris - Terminal G, Gate 1, Level 3, San Francisco, CA 94128. Note: online applications accepted only. * Schedule : Full time schedule. Days and hours may ...

SFO

Waiter/Waitress

San Francisco, CA

$23.75/hr

OverviewWAITER/WAITRESS (FULL TIME) * We are hiring immediately for full time WAITER/WAITRESS positions. * Location : United Polaris - Terminal G, Gate 1, Level 3, San Francisco, CA 94128. Note ...

Compass Group

WAITER/WAITRESS

Union City, CA · On-site

$17.50/hr

... WAITRESS positions. * Location : Masonic Homes of CA - 34400 Mission Boulevard, Union City, CA 94587 * Schedule : Full time and part time schedules. Hours and days may vary; including weekends.

Compass Group

WAITER/WAITRESS

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$18.42/hr

... WAITRESS positions. * Location : Solheim Senior Living - 2236 Merton Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90041. * Schedule : Part time schedule. Hours and days may vary. Further details upon interview.

Compass Group

WAITER/WAITRESS

Menlo Park, CA · On-site

... WAITRESS positions. * Location : DivcoWest - 3000 Sand Hill Road 1-120, Menlo Park, CA 94025. Note: online applications accepted only. * Schedule : Full and part time; Monday through Friday, hours ...

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Waitress information

See California salary details

$5

$15

$28

How much do waitress jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 19, 2026, the average hourly pay for waitress in California is $15.59, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $11.39 and $16.59 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the duties and responsibilities of a waitress?

A waitress is responsible for taking customer orders, serving food and beverages, and ensuring a pleasant dining experience. They greet guests, answer questions about the menu, and relay special requests to the kitchen staff. Waitresses also handle payments, clear tables, and maintain cleanliness in their section. Good communication skills, a friendly attitude, and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment are essential for this role.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a waitress, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Waitress, you need excellent customer service skills, basic math abilities, and familiarity with food safety standards, typically requiring only a high school diploma or equivalent. Knowledge of point-of-sale (POS) systems and food handling certifications are often required in restaurants. Strong communication, teamwork, and multitasking abilities help Waitresses stand out by ensuring efficient service and positive guest experiences. These skills are critical for maintaining customer satisfaction, handling busy shifts, and supporting a smooth restaurant operation.

What are common challenges waitresses face during busy shifts, and how can they manage them?

Waitresses often encounter challenges such as handling multiple tables at once, managing special requests, and ensuring prompt service during peak hours. Effective time management, clear communication with kitchen and bar staff, and prioritizing tasks are essential skills for navigating busy periods. Developing a strong memory for orders and staying calm under pressure helps maintain high-quality service and customer satisfaction. Many establishments also encourage teamwork among waitstaff to support each other when the restaurant is particularly busy.

What is the difference between Waitress vs Bartender?

AspectWaitressBartender
CredentialsNone required, but food safety and customer service training helpfulAlcohol server permit/license often required
Work EnvironmentRestaurants, cafes, casual diningBars, pubs, nightclubs
Job DutiesTaking orders, serving food and drinks, customer serviceMixing drinks, serving alcohol, engaging with customers
Industry UsageCommon in food service industryCommon in beverage and hospitality industry

While both waitresses and bartenders work in the hospitality industry serving customers, waitresses primarily focus on food service and customer care at tables, whereas bartenders specialize in preparing and serving alcoholic beverages at the bar. Both roles require strong customer service skills, but bartenders often need specific permits for alcohol service. Understanding these differences helps job seekers find the right position in the food and beverage industry.

More about Waitress jobs

What are the most commonly searched types of Waitress jobs in California?

The most popular types of Waitress jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Waitress jobs in California?

For Waitress jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Waitress jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Waitress jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Waitress jobs?

Cities in California with the most Waitress job openings:

What are popular job titles related to Waitress jobs in CA?

For Waitress jobs in CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Waitress jobs near you
Infographic showing various Waitress job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 64% Full Time, and 36% Part Time. Highlights an 100% Physical job distribution, with an average salary of $32,425 per year, or $15.6 per hour.

Waiter/Waitress

IHOP

Daly City, CA

$15.53/hr

Full-time

Re-posted 2 days ago

IHOP rating

4.9

Company rating: 4.9 out of 10

Based on 361 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

78th of 88 rated restaurants

Job description

Main Responsibilities of a Waiter/Waitress:
Taking orders and delivering food and beverages.
Helping guests with menu recommendations.
Providing exceptional customer experience.
Waiter/Waitress Job Description:
Our restaurant is looking for a waiter/waitress with remarkable hard skills and engaging people skills.
The right person for this job should be able to multitask food and beverage orders and deliveries, but not only that. Our restaurant prides itself in providing excellent service, which is why we are looking for a waiter/waitress who will treat our guests with attentiveness, patience, and a positive attitude.
The responsibilities of a waiter/waitress in our restaurant are to greet guests, seat them down, help them with menu recommendations, take and deliver orders (carry trays), and clear tables. All our waiters/waitresses are also responsible for handling cash and credit card transactions.
To help our restaurant provide a pleasurable dining experience, a good waiter/waitress should be able to ensure that our guests are fully satisfied by being friendly, courteous, accommodating, and reliable. A suitable candidate for the job should also be a problem-solver and a team player.
Responsibilities of a Waiter/Waitress:
Greeting, seating, and escorting guests.
Providing menu recommendations and additional information.
Upselling additional products when appropriate.
Checking ID's to prevent minors from ordering alcoholic beverages.
Taking orders using software, order slips, or by memorization.
Communicating order details to the kitchen staff.
Delivering food and beverages in a timely fashion.
Delivering checks and collecting bill payments.
Cleaning and maintaining the appearance of tables and tableware.
Providing exceptional customer experience.
Waiter/Waitress Job Requirements:
Must have prior experience as a waiter/waitress.
Must showcase teamwork and communication skills.
Must be able to handle money transactions responsibly.
Must be able to multitask and act quickly.
Must be flexible and ready to work in shifts.
Must carry at least a high school diploma.

Since 1958, IHOP® has been the place where people connect over breakfast, enjoy study breaks, grab a bite before or after sporting events, and so much more. And no matter what menu items they order, there’s one ingredient that’s always constant — a smile. We’ve seen millions of smiles over the years in our restaurants, and now shared in photos across our social properties. In fact, smiles are so much a part of our culture that we changed our logo to include one.
This is just one of the many fun and exciting changes you can expect from IHOP®. Because we know the shortest distance between two people is a smile. –

What IHOP employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

IHOP logo

About IHOP

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

The shortest distance between two people is a smile, so our logo changed to include one! Since 1958, IHOP has been the place where people connect over breakfast, enjoy study breaks, grab a bite before or after sporting events, and so much more. No matter what menu items they order, there's one ingredient that's always constant -- a smile.

Industry

Food services and drinking places

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Glendale, CA, US

Year founded

2003

View All IHOP Jobs