Bartender Salary in Brownsville, TX
Bartenders in the Brownsville-Harlingen, TX metro area earn a median $18,340 a year — 47% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $16,713 take-home, or $1,393 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bartender salary in Brownsville, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$224
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,137
- Medicare (1.45%)$266
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$16,713
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 0.00% state
Bartender pay by experience in Brownsville, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,080 | $7.25 | $13,926 | $1,161 |
| 25th percentile | $15,370 | $7.39 | $14,194 | $1,183 |
| Median (50th) | $18,340 | $8.82 | $16,713 | $1,393 |
| 75th percentile | $28,360 | $13.63 | $24,964 | $2,080 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $51,520 | $24.77 | $43,576 | $3,631 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $18,340 buys in Brownsville, TX
Prices in Brownsville, TX are 14.0% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 42% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bartender's $16,713 take-home pay has the buying power of $19,439 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Bartender jobs are about as common in Brownsville, TX as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.82).
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Brownsville, TX ranks #229 of 237 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului, HI | $86,280 | $64,501 | $58,962 |
| 2 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $75,340 | $57,636 | $51,943 |
| 3 | Kennewick, WA | $55,820 | $47,031 | $46,994 |
| 4 | Bellingham, WA | $56,110 | $47,264 | $45,739 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $58,180 | $48,928 | $44,026 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $61,220 | $48,661 | $43,230 |
| 7 | Bremerton, WA | $53,810 | $45,416 | $43,005 |
| 8 | Portland, ME | $54,170 | $43,231 | $42,442 |
| 229 | Brownsville, TX | $18,340 | $16,713 | $19,439 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 237 metros →
Bartender salaries elsewhere in Texas
- Beaumont, TX — $22,600
- Austin, TX — $23,670
- Killeen, TX — $21,280
- Dallas, TX — $24,170
- San Antonio, TX — $21,980
- Waco, TX — $21,420
- Lubbock, TX — $20,990
- Houston, TX — $22,770
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Brownsville, TX?
The median bartender salary in the Brownsville-Harlingen, TX metro area is $18,340 a year, or about $8.82 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $15,370 and $28,360.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Brownsville, TX?
On the median $18,340 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $16,713 a year ($1,393 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Brownsville, TX a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 47% below the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 14.0% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $19,439 would in a typical U.S. city. Brownsville, TX ranks #229 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender afford rent in Brownsville, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Brownsville, TX is $866 a month ($1,047 for two bedrooms) — 62% of a median bartender’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Brownsville, TX
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $29,670
- Cooks, Restaurant — $28,670
- Food Preparation Worker — $26,180
- Cooks, Fast Food — $25,050
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $22,500
- Waiter and Waitress — $21,010
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $19,290