In today’s complex economic landscape, understanding minimum wage laws is extremely important both for restaurant owners and servers alike. Minimum wage laws are designed to prevent employee exploitation.
These laws will differ depending on where you live. If you’re a restaurant owner or server in San Antonio, Texas, this guide is for you! We’ll cover the minimum wage in San Antonio, Texas, standard livable wages, and on-site staffing solutions for operation demand.
Minimum Wage in San Antonio, Texas
As it stands, the San Antonio minimum wage in 2022 remains at $7.25 per hour—the same as the current federal minimum wage rate. The last time Texas raised the minimum wage was back in 2009 when it was increased from $6.55. Almost every employer across several occupations is subject to these regulations. However, exceptions do exist.
Workers considered exempt employees are not required to receive $7.25 per hour. Student employees, workers with disabilities, and those younger than 20 years of age are exempt from minimum wage rights. In fact, federal law allows Texas businesses to pay a new employee under the age of 20 a wage of just $4.25 per hour for the first 90 days of employment.
So, let’s talk about servers. Servers are considered “tipped employees.” The tipped minimum wage in Texas stands at $2.13 per hour. In this case, servers earn tipped credits, which are meant to supplement wages via tips. If you make enough in tips to reach $7.25 per hour, your employer won’t have to make up the difference. Otherwise, your employer must pay the difference between the minimum cash wage and your tips to ensure that you reach $7.25 per hour.
Finally, Texas employees are entitled to $10.88 per hour for overtime work. This means that non-exempt employees receive 1.5 times the regular minimum wage for overtime work.
What is the Living Wage in San Antonio?
Now that we’ve covered minimum wage in San Antonio, Texas, it is time to turn our attention to living wages. A living wage is exactly what it sounds like: an acceptable level of income needed to support oneself and cover basic living expenses such as food, housing, healthcare, transportation, etc. As is the case with other locations around the country, the standard living wage in San Antonio changes depending on several economic and social factors.
For example, a single adult working full-time (40 hours per week) with no dependents has a living wage of $15.43 per hour. In this scenario, a worker must reach that designated amount to cover their living expenses in San Antonio. The more dependents you have, the higher your living wage. Two full-time working adults with two dependents have a living wage of $21.90.
A server working full-time in San Antonio should expect an average wage of $15.43 per hour. Assuming they work five days a week, eight hours a day, this amount adds up to an average of $617.20 per week.
Qwick Connects you to Hospitality Shifts with Livable Wages
Finding a server position fit for your experience with sufficient income can be a difficult task.
At Qwick, we’re dedicated to matching hospitality industry talent with open shifts that offer livable wages—many of them right here in San Antonio! Not only can you hand-select your own schedule, but you can also get paid just 30 minutes after clocking out. Pretty sweet, right? Sign up for free today to see server shifts in your area!
Qwick Helps Employers Fill Service Gaps
By this point, we’re all aware of the staffing challenges plaguing the hospitality industry. In times of economic uncertainty and ever-changing circumstances, it can be hard to maintain a qualified staff that can keep your operation running smoothly.
Here at Qwick, our hospitality staffing platform helps bridge the gap between business needs and employment uncertainty. Are you looking to hire quality independent contractors to fill in shift gaps? Qwick allows you to test out talent, and if you like them, you can offer them a full-time role with no penalties! Additionally, our hospitality focus ensures that you receive qualified staff with at least one year of relevant experience and all necessary certifications.
Why Understanding Minimum Wage Laws is Crucial
Just like anywhere across the United States, minimum wage laws in San Antonio, Texas are designed to prevent employee exploitation and reduce overall uncertainty regarding income rights.
Whether you’re a hospitality worker looking to increase your earnings in the service industry or a business owner hoping to keep up with business demands and improve customer satisfaction, see how Qwick can help you.
