Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Texas
Chefs and Head Cooks in Texas make a median of $51,050 a year, or about $24.54 an hour. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $86K for experienced workers.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Texas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $51K get you in Texas?
About chefs and head cooks
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Texas
Entry-level chefs and head cooks (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $51K. Top earners bring in $86K or more, a $56K spread from bottom to top.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary by metro in Texas
25 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $56K | +10% | 1,770 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $56K | +9% | 4,660 |
| Midland | $54K | +6% | 110 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $54K | +6% | 4,290 |
| Amarillo | $50K | -2% | 100 |
| Corpus Christi | $50K | -2% | 210 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $49K | -3% | 1,880 |
| Odessa | $49K | -3% | 60 |
| Victoria | $47K | -7% | 40 |
| Sherman-Denison | $47K | -8% | 40 |
| Abilene | $47K | -8% | 70 |
| San Angelo | $46K | -9% | 60 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur | $46K | -10% | 180 |
| Waco | $46K | -10% | 100 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission | $43K | -15% | 250 |
| Laredo | $41K | -20% | 130 |
| Texarkana | $39K | -23% | 80 |
| Tyler | $38K | -26% | 110 |
| College Station-Bryan | $37K | -27% | 230 |
| Lubbock | $37K | -27% | 160 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen | $36K | -29% | 200 |
| Wichita Falls | $36K | -30% | 50 |
| Longview | $35K | -31% | 90 |
| El Paso | $35K | -32% | 410 |
| Killeen-Temple | $32K | -38% | 220 |
Showing 1–10 of 25 metros
Compare to other states
Track chefs and head cooks salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Texas numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make in Texas?
The median is $51,050 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,030, and experienced chefs and head cooks can clear $86,210. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $51K enough to live in Texas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,588/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,415/month, which eats 39.4% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a chefs and head cooks salary go in Texas?
Texas has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median chefs and head cooks salary is worth about $55,798 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do chefs and head cooks get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.