Waiters and Waitresses Salary in Houston, TX

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX

Median annual salary $26,830 -20.5% vs national
Median hourly $12.90
10th percentile $18,090
90th percentile $48,830
Employed locally 52,610
National median $33,760

Compare Waiters and Waitresses salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Houston, TX stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Waiters and Waitresses
in
Houston, TX
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $18,090
    25th
    $18,710
    50th (median)
    $26,830
    75th
    $37,270
    90th
    $48,830

    Houston economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $80,458 2023 • Census ACS
    Waiters and Waitresses salary vs area income 33% Median Waiters and Waitresses salary is 67% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Waiters and Waitresses

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $71,920
    Burlington-South Burlington, VT $66,350
    Vermont $60,910
    Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area $60,840
    Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area $53,460
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $48,760

    Nearby metros — Waiters and Waitresses salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $29,740
    Midland, TX $29,290
    San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX $29,120
    Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $28,590
    Sherman-Denison, TX $28,220
    College Station-Bryan, TX $28,170

    Related occupations in Houston, TX

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $26,960
    Cooks, Restaurant $33,760
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $37,200
    Food Preparation Workers $29,770
    Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers $26,370
    Bartenders $26,990

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Waiters and Waitresses make per hour in Houston?

    The median hourly wage for Waiters and Waitresses in Houston, TX is $12.90, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $22.74 or more per hour.

    Is Houston above or below average for Waiters and Waitresses salaries?

    The median Waiters and Waitresses salary in Houston, TX is 20.5% below the national median of $33,760. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Waiters and Waitresses in Houston?

    Entry-level Waiters and Waitresses (10th percentile) earn around $18,090 per year in Houston, TX. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $18,710.