Waiter and Waitress Salary in Lubbock, TX
Waiters and Waitresses in the Lubbock, TX metro area earn a median $22,560 a year — 36% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $20,188 take-home, or $1,682 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Lubbock, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$646
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,399
- Medicare (1.45%)$327
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$20,188
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Lubbock, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $16,290 | $7.83 | $15,025 | $1,252 |
| 25th percentile | $16,950 | $8.15 | $15,568 | $1,297 |
| Median (50th) | $22,560 | $10.85 | $20,188 | $1,682 |
| 75th percentile | $35,490 | $17.06 | $30,696 | $2,558 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,630 | $22.42 | $39,647 | $3,304 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $22,560 buys in Lubbock, TX
Prices in Lubbock, TX are 8.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 24% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $20,188 take-home pay has the buying power of $22,108 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Lubbock, TX has 1.3× 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
Lubbock, TX ranks #123 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 |
| 123 | Lubbock, TX | $22,560 | $20,188 | $22,108 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 148 metros →
About the job: waiters and waitresses
Take orders and serve food and beverages to patrons at tables in dining establishment.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.0% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Waiter and Waitress salaries elsewhere in Texas
- San Antonio, TX — $28,110
- Austin, TX — $27,260
- College Station, TX — $22,800
- Corpus Christi, TX — $22,820
- Brownsville, TX — $21,010
- 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 Lubbock, TX?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Lubbock, TX metro area is $22,560 a year, or about $10.85 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $16,950 and $35,490.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Lubbock, TX?
On the median $22,560 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $20,188 a year ($1,682 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Lubbock, TX a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 36% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 8.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $22,108 would in a typical U.S. city. Lubbock, TX ranks #123 of 148 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Lubbock, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Lubbock, TX is $974 a month ($1,155 for two bedrooms) — 58% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Lubbock, TX
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $25,250