Waiter and Waitress Salary in McAllen, TX
Waiters and Waitresses in the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX metro area earn a median $20,650 a year — 41% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $18,615 take-home, or $1,551 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in McAllen, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$455
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,280
- Medicare (1.45%)$299
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$18,615
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 0.00% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in McAllen, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,430 | $7.42 | $14,250 | $1,187 |
| 25th percentile | $16,050 | $7.72 | $14,822 | $1,235 |
| Median (50th) | $20,650 | $9.93 | $18,615 | $1,551 |
| 75th percentile | $29,820 | $14.34 | $26,140 | $2,178 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,210 | $21.25 | $37,703 | $3,142 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $20,650 buys in McAllen, TX
Prices in McAllen, TX are 14.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 44% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $18,615 take-home pay has the buying power of $21,672 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 McAllen, TX as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.86).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
McAllen, TX ranks #326 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 |
| 326 | McAllen, TX | $20,650 | $18,615 | $21,672 |
*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 McAllen, TX?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX metro area is $20,650 a year, or about $9.93 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $16,050 and $29,820.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in McAllen, TX?
On the median $20,650 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $18,615 a year ($1,551 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is McAllen, TX a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 41% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 14.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $21,672 would in a typical U.S. city. McAllen, TX ranks #326 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in McAllen, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in McAllen, TX is $847 a month ($1,060 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 McAllen, TX
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $30,270
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $29,300
- Cooks, Restaurant — $28,380
- Food Preparation Worker — $26,960
- Cooks, Fast Food — $26,740
- Dishwasher — $23,140
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $22,790
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $22,510
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $19,910
- Bartender — $18,940