Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Texas
Chefs and Head Cooks in Texas earn a median of $56,080 a year ($26.96 an hour), based on BLS data for 13,270 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,380 for the lowest-paid 10% to $92,290 for the top 10%. That is 10% lower than the national median of $62,470. Texas ranks 41st of 51 states for chefs and head cooks pay. There are 0.94 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.73). The average (mean) salary is $59,350, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Texas
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,380 | $15.09 |
| 25th percentile | $42,030 | $20.21 |
| Median | $56,080 | $26.96 |
| 75th percentile | $71,870 | $34.55 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $92,290 | $44.37 |
| Average (mean) | $59,350 | $28.53 |
Half of chefs and head cooks earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,673.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,336.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,156.92 |
| Weekly | $1,078.46 |
| Hourly | $26.96 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in cities in Texas
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $64,100 | 3,550 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $62,400 | 1,710 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $58,440 | 120 |
| Midland, TX | $58,100 | 100 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $57,920 | 170 |
| Lubbock, TX | $56,950 | 100 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | $53,000 | 110 |
| Tyler, TX | $52,050 | 90 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $50,270 | 50 |
| San Angelo, TX | $50,190 | 50 |
| Odessa, TX | $49,820 | 70 |
| Laredo, TX | $49,670 | 60 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $48,900 | 1,260 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $47,850 | 120 |
| Abilene, TX | $47,840 | 60 |
| Longview, TX | $46,870 | 90 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $46,150 | 150 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $45,400 | 3,610 |
| Amarillo, TX | $45,370 | 80 |
| El Paso, TX | $43,020 | 320 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | $43,020 | 40 |
| Waco, TX | $42,660 | 110 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $39,140 | 230 |
Highest-paying states for chefs and head cooks
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $79,930 |
| Hawaii | $77,360 |
| District of Columbia | $76,420 |
| Washington | $76,010 |
| North Dakota | $74,740 |
| New Jersey | $74,280 |
| Wyoming | $73,170 |
| South Carolina | $71,860 |
| New York | $70,670 |
| Tennessee | $69,810 |
Related jobs in Texas
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $36,480 | $17.54 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,740 | $13.34 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $23,240 | $11.18 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $34,760 | $16.71 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,650 | $14.74 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $21,550 | $10.36 |
| Bartender | $22,690 | $10.91 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,280 | $13.60 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,080 | $13.02 |
| Dishwasher | $29,610 | $14.23 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,360 | $17.00 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $29,300 | $14.09 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $25,320 | $12.18 |
| Cooks, All Other | $32,150 | $15.46 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Texas
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chefs and head cooks make in Texas?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in Texas is $56,080 a year, or $26.96 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,380 for the lowest-paid 10% to $92,290 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Texas?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in Texas earn at least $92,290 a year. The top 25% earn $71,870 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Texas?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,380 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $42,030 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Texas?
About 13,270 chefs and head cooks are employed in Texas, not counting the self-employed.