Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Texas
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Texas earn a median of $35,360 a year ($17.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 24,740 workers.
Pay ranges from $24,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,840 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $37,450. Texas ranks 40th of 51 states for cooks, institution and cafeteria pay. There are 1.8 cooks, institution and cafeteria per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.62). The average (mean) salary is $34,870, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Texas
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,770 | $11.91 |
| 25th percentile | $29,170 | $14.02 |
| Median | $35,360 | $17.00 |
| 75th percentile | $38,910 | $18.71 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,840 | $21.56 |
| Average (mean) | $34,870 | $16.76 |
Half of cooks, institution and cafeteria 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 | $2,946.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,473.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,360 |
| Weekly | $680 |
| Hourly | $17.00 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in cities in Texas
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $37,370 | 6,620 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $36,890 | 460 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $36,670 | 2,210 |
| Midland, TX | $36,470 | 130 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $35,660 | 4,890 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $35,250 | 2,290 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | $34,930 | 300 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | $34,480 | 130 |
| Waco, TX | $34,410 | 280 |
| Odessa, TX | $34,330 | 90 |
| San Angelo, TX | $33,930 | 130 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $32,950 | 380 |
| Amarillo, TX | $32,880 | 240 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | $32,400 | 210 |
| Abilene, TX | $31,850 | 250 |
| Tyler, TX | $30,600 | 230 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $30,470 | 300 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $29,990 | 190 |
| Lubbock, TX | $29,700 | 440 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $29,300 | 550 |
| Longview, TX | $29,220 | 240 |
| Victoria, TX | $28,860 | 80 |
| El Paso, TX | $28,110 | 800 |
| Eagle Pass, TX | $27,710 | 60 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $27,620 | 140 |
| Laredo, TX | $27,570 | 170 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, institution and cafeteria
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $49,670 |
| Alaska | $48,580 |
| Massachusetts | $47,790 |
| Hawaii | $47,770 |
| Rhode Island | $46,570 |
| California | $46,390 |
| Vermont | $46,370 |
| Connecticut | $46,120 |
| New York | $45,880 |
| District of Columbia | $45,450 |
Related jobs in Texas
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $34,760 | $16.71 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,650 | $14.74 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,280 | $13.60 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $25,320 | $12.18 |
| Cooks, All Other | $32,150 | $15.46 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,740 | $13.34 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $23,240 | $11.18 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $36,480 | $17.54 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $21,550 | $10.36 |
| Bartender | $22,690 | $10.91 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,080 | $13.02 |
| Dishwasher | $29,610 | $14.23 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $29,300 | $14.09 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $56,080 | $26.96 |
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 35-2012. 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 cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Texas?
The median salary for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Texas is $35,360 a year, or $17.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $24,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,840 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Texas?
The top 10% of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Texas earn at least $44,840 a year. The top 25% earn $38,910 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Texas?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $24,770 a year, and a quarter of cooks, institution and cafeteria earn $29,170 or less.
How many cooks, institution and cafeteria work in Texas?
About 24,740 cooks, institution and cafeteria are employed in Texas, not counting the self-employed.