Waiter and Waitress Salary in Austin, TX
Waiters and Waitresses in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metro area earn a median $27,260 a year — 23% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $24,059 take-home, or $2,005 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Austin, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,116
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,690
- Medicare (1.45%)$395
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$24,059
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 0.00% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Austin, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $18,100 | $8.70 | $16,515 | $1,376 |
| 25th percentile | $18,710 | $9.00 | $17,018 | $1,418 |
| Median (50th) | $27,260 | $13.11 | $24,059 | $2,005 |
| 75th percentile | $42,540 | $20.45 | $36,361 | $3,030 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $57,750 | $27.76 | $48,582 | $4,049 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $27,260 buys in Austin, TX
Prices in Austin, TX are 1.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.20× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $24,059 take-home pay has the buying power of $24,533 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Waiter and Waitress jobs are about as common in Austin, TX as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.01).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Austin, TX ranks #281 of 375 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului, HI | $82,550 | $62,160 | $56,823 |
| 2 | Burlington, VT | $61,620 | $50,061 | $49,591 |
| 3 | Bellingham, WA | $56,700 | $47,738 | $46,198 |
| 4 | Bremerton, WA | $55,270 | $46,589 | $44,116 |
| 5 | Mount Vernon, WA | $53,060 | $44,814 | $43,745 |
| 6 | Yakima, WA | $49,060 | $41,600 | $43,539 |
| 7 | Kennewick, WA | $51,460 | $43,528 | $43,494 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $57,280 | $48,204 | $43,375 |
| 281 | Austin, TX | $27,260 | $24,059 | $24,533 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 375 metros →
Waiter and Waitress salaries elsewhere in Texas
- San Antonio, TX — $28,110
- Sherman, TX — $26,290
- Texarkana, TX — $23,330
- Wichita Falls, TX — $22,980
- Laredo, TX — $22,020
- Killeen, TX — $22,910
- College Station, TX — $22,800
- Abilene, TX — $22,520
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Austin, TX?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metro area is $27,260 a year, or about $13.11 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $18,710 and $42,540.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Austin, TX?
On the median $27,260 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $24,059 a year ($2,005 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Austin, TX a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 23% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 1.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $24,533 would in a typical U.S. city. Austin, TX ranks #281 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Austin, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Austin, TX is $1,562 a month ($1,852 for two bedrooms) — 78% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Austin, TX
- Chef and Head Cook — $62,400
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $40,650
- Cooks, Fast Food — $38,560
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,810
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $36,670
- Dishwasher — $35,360
- Food Preparation Worker — $34,880
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $32,610
- Cooks, Short Order — $31,520
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,310
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $29,130
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $27,260