Waiter and Waitress Salary in San Antonio, TX
Waiters and Waitresses in the San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX metro area earn a median $28,110 a year — 20% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $24,759 take-home, or $2,063 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in San Antonio, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,201
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,743
- Medicare (1.45%)$408
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$24,759
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 0.00% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in San Antonio, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $17,070 | $8.21 | $15,667 | $1,306 |
| 25th percentile | $18,260 | $8.78 | $16,647 | $1,387 |
| Median (50th) | $28,110 | $13.51 | $24,759 | $2,063 |
| 75th percentile | $37,440 | $18.00 | $32,263 | $2,689 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,800 | $22.98 | $40,587 | $3,382 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $28,110 buys in San Antonio, TX
Prices in San Antonio, TX are 5.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 5% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $24,759 take-home pay has the buying power of $26,140 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
San Antonio, TX has 1.2× the national concentration of waiter and waitress jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
San Antonio, TX ranks #261 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 |
| 261 | San Antonio, TX | $28,110 | $24,759 | $26,140 |
*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
- 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
- Abilene, TX — $22,520
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in San Antonio, TX?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX metro area is $28,110 a year, or about $13.51 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $18,260 and $37,440.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in San Antonio, TX?
On the median $28,110 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $24,759 a year ($2,063 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is San Antonio, TX a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 20% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 5.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $26,140 would in a typical U.S. city. San Antonio, TX ranks #261 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in San Antonio, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Antonio, TX is $1,171 a month ($1,419 for two bedrooms) — 57% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Antonio, TX
- Chef and Head Cook — $48,900
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $36,850
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $35,250
- Cooks, Restaurant — $34,860
- Food Preparation Worker — $34,390
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — $30,280
- Cooks, Fast Food — $30,110
- Dishwasher — $29,850
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $28,740
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,810
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $27,640
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $23,510