Brownsville-Harlingen, TX · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Waiter or Waitress Salary in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX

In the Brownsville-Harlingen, TX metropolitan area, waiters or waitresses earned a median annual wage of $20,600 ($9.90/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $15,100/year and the 90th was $42,200/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Texas tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $18,574 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 86.0 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$20,600$9.90 per hour · $1,717 monthly
10th Percentile$15,100$7.26/hr base
25th Percentile$15,900$7.64/hr base
75th Percentile$33,000$15.87/hr base
90th Percentile$42,200$20.29/hr base

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-Home Pay Explorer

$20,600
$15,000$45,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$20,600
Net 90%
Fed 2%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$18,574After all taxes
Monthly deposit$1,548Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$714Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate9.8%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$450 / yr
Texas state income taxNo state wage tax$0
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$1,576 / yr

Waiters and Waitresses Wage Percentiles in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX

Official survey estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Full-time calculations assume standard 2,080 annual working hours.

Wage Distribution for Waiters and Waitresses in the Brownsville-Harlingen, TX Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (TX)
10th Percentile$7.26/hr$1,258$15,100$13,945
25th Percentile$7.64/hr$1,325$15,900$14,684
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$9.90/hr$1,717$20,600$18,574
75th Percentile$15.87/hr$2,750$33,000$28,696
90th Percentile$20.29/hr$3,517$42,200$36,088

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$20,600 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$52,601Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index86.014% below national average
Individual vs Household Ratio39.2%of area median income

Compare waiters or waitresses salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in Texas:

Frequently Asked Questions About Waiters and Waitresses Pay in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX

What is the median salary for waiters or waitresses in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX?

The official BLS median annual wage for waiters or waitresses in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX is $20,600, which equates to approximately $1,717 per month or $9.90 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for waiters or waitresses in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX?

The median hourly wage for waiters or waitresses in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX is $9.90 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $7.26/hour and one in ten earned more than $20.29/hour.

What is the pay range for waiters or waitresses in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX?

BLS wage estimates for waiters or waitresses in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX span from $15,100 at the 10th percentile to $15,900 at the 25th, $33,000 at the 75th, and $42,200 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do waiters or waitresses take home after taxes in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX?

On a median gross salary of $20,600, an estimated $18,574 lands in net take-home pay per year ($714 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Texas in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $2,026 (an effective rate of 9.8%).

How much do waiters or waitresses make per month in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX?

On the median annual salary of $20,600, gross monthly income is $1,717. After federal, FICA, and Texas state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $1,548 per month (or $714 every two weeks).

Is $20,600 a good salary in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX?

At $20,600, the median salary for waiters or waitresses is 39.2% of the Brownsville-Harlingen, TX median household income ($52,601). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 86.0, making regional consumer goods and services 14% cheaper than the U.S. average.