SOC 35-3031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Waiters and Waitresses — Houston
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Houston, TX is $22,080 per year, substantially below the national median of $35,230 — a gap of 37.3%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Houston, TX is $22,080 per year, substantially below the national median of $35,230 — a gap of 37.3%. Pay ranges from under $17,480 at the tenth percentile to more than $47,290 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $17,870 to $37,390.
Employment stands at 51,330, or 15.6 jobs per thousand held locally. San Antonio leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $28,110. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 697th of 699 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $17,480 | −50.4% |
| 25th | $17,870 | −49.3% |
| Median (50th) | $22,080 | −37.3% |
| 75th | $37,390 | +6.1% |
| 90th | $47,290 | +34.2% |
| Mean | $29,180 | −17.2% |
Other metro areas in Texas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Antonio | $28,110 | 20,320 | |
| 2 | Austin | $27,260 | 19,170 | |
| 3 | Sherman | $26,290 | 780 | |
| 4 | Dallas | $24,160 | 53,460 | |
| 5 | Midland | $23,700 | 1,560 | |
| 6 | Texarkana | $23,330 | 970 | |
| 7 | Waco | $23,010 | 1,680 | |
| 8 | Wichita Falls | $22,980 | 840 | |
| 9 | Killeen | $22,910 | 1,900 | |
| 10 | Corpus Christi | $22,820 | 3,390 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Houston run 2.9% below the national average, so the median of $22,080 goes as far as $22,739 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 35.5% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$22,080as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$22,739US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $22,080 a year, 37.3% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $17,480 to $47,290 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 51,330 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Antonio, at $28,110.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Houston, TX?
The median annual wage is $22,080, or $10.61 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $35,230, so pay in Houston, TX is 37.3% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Houston, TX earns more than $47,290 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $17,480 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in San Antonio, at $28,110 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 51,330 jobs in this occupation in Houston, TX. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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