Bartenders pay range in Waco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $16,200 a year or less, while the top 10% make $62,890 or more. The middle half of bartenders in Waco earn between $16,950 and $36,810.
- $16K10th
- $17K25th
- $21KMedian
- $37K75th
- $63K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $30,360 | $2,530 | $14.60 |
| Median | $21,420 | $1,785 | $10.30 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $16,950 | $1,412 | $8.15 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,810 | $3,068 | $17.70 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Bartenders pay in Waco vs. Texas and the U.S.
Bartenders in Waco earn 7% less than the Texas average ($32,640) and 26% less than the U.S. average ($40,790). At the median the gap is -38% against the U.S. median of $34,340.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waco | $30,360 | $21,420 | $16,200 | $62,890 | 500 |
| Texas | $32,640 | $22,690 | $16,200 | $65,300 | 59,000 |
| United States | $40,790 | $34,340 | $20,110 | $73,770 | 756,390 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Bartenders salary after taxes in Waco
On the average salary of $30,360, a single filer in Waco takes home about $26,574 a year, or $2,215 a month and $1,022 every two weeks. Taxes take 12% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Waco a good place for bartenders? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Waco area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.5), so the average $30,360 buys what about $32,804 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Waco ($46,020). A typical home costs $256,772, or 8.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Bartenders salary in other Texas cities
Waco ranks 10th of 25 Texas metro areas for this job; Dallas pays the most ($37,610).
Highest-paying cities for bartenders
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,360).
- Kahului, HI$91,360
- Honolulu, HI$72,660
- New York, NY$63,630
- Seattle, WA$62,090
- Portland, ME$60,600
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Bartenders salary in Waco: questions
How much do bartenders make an hour in Waco?
$14.59 an hour on average, and $10.30 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level bartenders salary in Waco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $16,200 a year and the 25th percentile is $16,950, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the bartenders take-home pay in Waco?
About $26,574 a year ($2,215 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $30,360. Texas has no state income tax.
Do bartenders earn more in Waco than elsewhere?
The average here is 26% less than the U.S. average for this job ($40,790).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-3011; area Waco, TX (47380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.9%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.79, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.79).
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