Waiter and Waitress Salary in Brownsville, TX
Waiters and Waitresses in the Brownsville-Harlingen, TX metro area earn a median $21,010 a year — 40% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $18,912 take-home, or $1,576 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Brownsville, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$491
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,303
- Medicare (1.45%)$305
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$18,912
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 0.00% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Brownsville, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,480 | $7.44 | $14,296 | $1,191 |
| 25th percentile | $16,110 | $7.75 | $14,877 | $1,240 |
| Median (50th) | $21,010 | $10.10 | $18,912 | $1,576 |
| 75th percentile | $34,040 | $16.37 | $29,531 | $2,461 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,110 | $21.69 | $38,426 | $3,202 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $21,010 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 waiter and waitress's $18,912 take-home pay has the buying power of $21,997 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 Brownsville, TX as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.06).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Brownsville, TX ranks #125 of 148 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 | Seattle, WA | $57,280 | $48,204 | $43,375 |
| 3 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $60,250 | $47,542 | $42,846 |
| 4 | Spokane, WA | $48,560 | $41,198 | $41,056 |
| 5 | Syracuse, NY | $47,640 | $38,483 | $40,195 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $54,780 | $42,232 | $40,060 |
| 7 | Albany, NY | $48,980 | $39,488 | $39,660 |
| 8 | Buffalo, NY | $46,580 | $37,689 | $39,323 |
| 125 | Brownsville, TX | $21,010 | $18,912 | $21,997 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 148 metros →
Waiter and Waitress salaries elsewhere in Texas
- San Antonio, TX — $28,110
- Austin, TX — $27,260
- College Station, TX — $22,800
- Lubbock, TX — $22,560
- Corpus Christi, TX — $22,820
- El Paso, TX — $21,870
- McAllen, TX — $20,650
- Dallas, TX — $24,160
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Brownsville, TX?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Brownsville-Harlingen, TX metro area is $21,010 a year, or about $10.10 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $16,110 and $34,040.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Brownsville, TX?
On the median $21,010 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $18,912 a year ($1,576 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Brownsville, TX a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 40% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 14.0% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $21,997 would in a typical U.S. city. Brownsville, TX ranks #125 of 148 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress 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) — 55% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Brownsville, TX
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $22,500