Cooks, Fast Food Salary in Texas
Cooks, Fast Foods in Texas make a median of $24,390 a year, or about $11.73 an hour. The range runs from $20K at the entry level to $35K for experienced workers.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Texas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $24K get you in Texas?
About cooks, fast foods
Sponsored links — AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Texas
Entry-level cooks, fast foods (10th percentile) start around $20K. Mid-career wages sit at $24K. Top earners bring in $35K or more, a $15K spread from bottom to top.
Cooks, Fast Food salary by metro in Texas
17 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $30K | +22% | 2,750 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $29K | +19% | 4,200 |
| Midland | $29K | +17% | 320 |
| Longview | $28K | +15% | 400 |
| Odessa | $28K | +14% | 270 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $27K | +12% | 2,670 |
| Sherman-Denison | $27K | +11% | 220 |
| Waco | $27K | +9% | 510 |
| Killeen-Temple | $27K | +9% | 550 |
| Corpus Christi | $26K | +7% | 530 |
| Abilene | $26K | +7% | 270 |
| San Angelo | $25K | +4% | 170 |
| El Paso | $25K | +1% | 1,100 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen | $24K | -2% | 490 |
| Texarkana | $23K | -5% | 230 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur | $23K | -6% | 400 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $23K | -7% | 9,630 |
Showing 1–10 of 17 metros
Compare to other states
Track cooks, fast food salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Texas numbers change.
Related careers in Food Service
Frequently asked questions
How much do cooks, fast foods make in Texas?
The median is $24,390 a year, that works out to about $12 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $20,150, and experienced cooks, fast foods can clear $35,160. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $24K enough to live in Texas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $1,799/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,415/month, which eats 78.7% 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 cooks, fast food 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 cooks, fast food salary is worth about $26,659 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do cooks, fast foods 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.