StateRates

Waco salaries

The median worker in the Waco, TX metro area earned $44,530 a year in 2024, about $21.41 an hour. That ranks #280 of the 391 metro areas published here, 10% below the national median.

Texas

Median pay $44,530 $21.41 per hour
Vs national -10% U.S. $49,500
Workers 129,920 wage and salary
Metro rank #280 of 391 by median pay

What this labour market looks like

Waco pays 6.3% less than Texas as a whole. Metros usually run ahead of their states because they concentrate higher-paying industries, and the gap is a rough measure of how much of a state's economy sits in its cities.

Unusually concentrated here

Occupations against their national share, 2024
Occupation Concentration Employed Median
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators 4.86× 1,250 $70,430
Helpers--Production Workers 4.48× 630 $33,120
Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks 2.95× 570 $47,320
Correctional Officers and Jailers 2.18× 670 $48,430
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers 2.11× 760 $45,960
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks 1.81× 1,310 $44,550
Food Preparation Workers 1.77× 1,330 $27,840
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters 1.74× 670 $58,670
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses 1.47× 780 $59,820
Fast Food and Counter Workers 1.45× 4,620 $27,270
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers 1.43× 830 $62,710
Customer Service Representatives 1.39× 3,200 $36,530

Best paid occupations

Highest median pay in Waco
Occupation Median Hourly Employed
Computer and Information Systems Managers $131,750 $63.34 290
Financial Managers $124,900 $60.05 460
Nurse Practitioners $123,970 $59.60 210
Marketing Managers $123,730 $59.49 270
Managers, All Other $119,270 $57.34 350
Software Developers $118,870 $57.15 460
Sales Managers $115,950 $55.75 500
Lawyers $108,640 $52.23 290
Physical Therapists $107,500 $51.68 200
Industrial Production Managers $107,310 $51.59 250
Medical and Health Services Managers $106,650 $51.27 480
Industrial Engineers $101,600 $48.85 220
Administrative Services Managers $100,030 $48.09 200
Computer Occupations, All Other $96,500 $46.40 210
Registered Nurses $87,330 $41.98 2,520
General and Operations Managers $85,960 $41.33 3,600
Construction Managers $85,360 $41.04 330
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary $82,990 n/a 430
Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers $82,380 $39.61 250
Management Analysts $77,810 $37.41 230
Network and Computer Systems Administrators $77,540 $37.28 230
Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians $77,410 $37.22 360
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $76,740 $36.90 720
Business Operations Specialists, All Other $76,250 $36.66 750
Project Management Specialists $74,280 $35.71 800
Accountants and Auditors $72,500 $34.85 790
Cost Estimators $70,710 $34.00 240
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators $70,430 $33.86 1,250
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians $67,380 $32.39 210
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers $66,740 $32.09 610
Instructional Coordinators $65,690 $31.58 370
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants $65,080 $31.29 280
Buyers and Purchasing Agents $65,060 $31.28 290
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary $64,790 $31.15 280
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $64,630 $31.07 820
Firefighters $63,390 $30.48 220
Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers $63,160 $30.36 300
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors $63,160 $30.37 400
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $62,710 $30.15 830
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School $61,040 n/a 310
Training and Development Specialists $60,730 $29.20 390
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education $60,130 n/a 1,160
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses $59,820 $28.76 780
Human Resources Specialists $59,590 $28.65 580
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists $58,920 $28.33 350
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters $58,670 $28.21 670
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers $58,620 $28.19 1,680
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products $58,570 $28.16 780
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors $58,150 $27.96 440
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents $58,020 $27.89 320
Industrial Machinery Mechanics $57,970 $27.87 440
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors $57,290 $27.54 210
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education $57,260 n/a 710
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists $56,770 $27.29 270
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel $56,360 $27.10 690
Postal Service Mail Carriers $56,330 $27.08 330
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines $55,130 $26.50 250
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School $54,900 n/a 220
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education $54,590 n/a 1,400
Compliance Officers $54,560 $26.23 390

Where most people work

Largest occupations in Waco by employment
Occupation Employed Median Hourly
Fast Food and Counter Workers 4,620 $27,270 $13.11
General and Operations Managers 3,600 $85,960 $41.33
Customer Service Representatives 3,200 $36,530 $17.56
Retail Salespersons 3,050 $29,080 $13.98
Stockers and Order Fillers 2,770 $36,160 $17.38
Cashiers 2,570 $27,070 $13.02
Registered Nurses 2,520 $87,330 $41.98
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand 2,410 $33,840 $16.27
Home Health and Personal Care Aides 2,100 $23,650 $11.37
Office Clerks, General 1,940 $36,410 $17.50
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers 1,910 $49,030 $23.57
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners 1,870 $30,400 $14.62
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers 1,680 $58,620 $28.19
Waiters and Waitresses 1,610 $28,120 $13.52
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators 1,550 $38,650 $18.58
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive 1,520 $40,120 $19.29
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General 1,510 $43,490 $20.91
Nursing Assistants 1,420 $34,640 $16.66
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education 1,400 $54,590 n/a
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary 1,360 $26,490 n/a

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 state estimates. Wage and salary workers only, excluding the self-employed.

Other Texas metro areas

Waco pay: common questions

What is the average salary in Waco?

The median across all occupations is $44,530, or $21.41 an hour, covering 129,920 wage and salary workers. The mean is $55,740, higher because a small number of very large salaries pull an average upward.

Does Waco pay more than the rest of Texas?

No. The metro median of $44,530 is 6.3% below the Texas median of $47,500. Metropolitan areas usually pay more than their states because they concentrate higher-paying industries, and usually cost more to live in for the same reason.

Which jobs pay best in Waco?

Computer and Information Systems Managers ($131,750), Financial Managers ($124,900), Nurse Practitioners ($123,970). Medical specialities top nearly every metro list, which reflects how the occupations are classified more than local conditions.

What is Waco unusually full of?

Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators, at 4.86× the national concentration. Location quotient is a better description of a local economy than its biggest employers, which are retail and food service almost everywhere.