Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Richardson, TX?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 55% of gross income.
Richardson rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Texas state estimate).
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 Richardson, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Richardson
View full rent data for Richardson, TX →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Richardson, TX?
Median rent in Richardson is $1,657 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Texas earns about $36,165 a year, which makes that rent 55% 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 Richardson?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Texas (~$36,165/yr) supports up to $904 a month in rent. Richardson's current median rent is $1,657/mo, which is $753/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Richardson?
At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Texas works roughly 95.3 hours a month to cover Richardson's median rent of $1,657.
Where is rent cheaper than Richardson for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Texas cities with lower median rent include Carrollton ($1,656/mo), Fairview ($1,656/mo), Humble ($1,655/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.