Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in McKinney, TX?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 60.4% of gross income.

McKinney rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Texas state estimate).

McKinney median rent
$1,819/mo
Waiter or Waitress salary (Texas)
$36,165/yr
Rent as % of income
60.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,014, and the 30% rule supports up to $904/mo in rent. McKinney's median rent of $1,819 exceeds that threshold by $915/mo, putting a waiter or waitress salary into the rent-burdened range here. A waiter or waitress works roughly 104.6 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a waiter or waitress salary

Declared server pay (base plus reported tips) sits below the rent threshold needed for a one-bedroom apartment in most US cities, which is why the server workforce tends to live in shared housing. Actual tip income varies widely and can push real take-home well above the BLS figure, particularly in fine-dining and high-volume restaurants. At the national-average declared server salary, the 30% rule supports about $913 a month in rent. The per-city pages show which markets keep rent within that range.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Texas cities have lower median rent than McKinney, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:

Sachse, TX
$1,818/mo (60.3% of income)
Sachse, TX
$1,818/mo (60.3% of income)
Kerrville, TX
$1,818/mo (60.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for McKinney

View full rent data for McKinney, TX

Frequently asked questions

Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in McKinney, TX?

Median rent in McKinney is $1,819 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Texas earns about $36,165 a year, which makes that rent 60.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a waiter or waitress afford in McKinney?

Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Texas (~$36,165/yr) supports up to $904 a month in rent. McKinney's current median rent is $1,819/mo, which is $915/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in McKinney?

At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Texas works roughly 104.6 hours a month to cover McKinney's median rent of $1,819.

Where is rent cheaper than McKinney for a waiter or waitress?

Nearby Texas cities with lower median rent include Sachse ($1,818/mo), Sachse ($1,818/mo), Kerrville ($1,818/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Texas state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for McKinney, TX. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.