Waiter and Waitress Salary in Houston, TX
Waiters and Waitresses in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $22,080 a year — 37% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $19,793 take-home, or $1,649 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$598
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,369
- Medicare (1.45%)$320
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$19,793
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 0.00% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $17,480 | $8.40 | $16,005 | $1,334 |
| 25th percentile | $17,870 | $8.59 | $16,326 | $1,360 |
| Median (50th) | $22,080 | $10.62 | $19,793 | $1,649 |
| 75th percentile | $37,390 | $17.98 | $32,223 | $2,685 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,290 | $22.74 | $40,178 | $3,348 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $22,080 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $19,793 take-home pay has the buying power of $20,068 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 Houston, TX as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.07).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #342 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 |
| 342 | Houston, TX | $22,080 | $19,793 | $20,068 |
*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
- Austin, TX — $27,260
- Wichita Falls, TX — $22,980
- Laredo, TX — $22,020
- Killeen, TX — $22,910
- College Station, TX — $22,800
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Houston, TX?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $22,080 a year, or about $10.62 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $17,870 and $37,390.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $22,080 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $19,793 a year ($1,649 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 37% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $20,068 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #342 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 80% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Houston, TX
- Chef and Head Cook — $45,400
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $36,410
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $35,660
- Cooks, Restaurant — $35,050
- Food Preparation Worker — $35,020
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — $31,200
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $29,050
- Dishwasher — $28,600
- Cooks, All Other — $27,900
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,570
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $26,730
- Cooks, Short Order — $25,720