Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Waco, TX
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the Waco, TX metro area earn a median of $34,410 a year ($16.54 an hour), based on BLS data for 280 workers.
Pay ranges from $27,280 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,180 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $37,450. Pay here is 3% lower than the Texas statewide median of $35,360. There are 2.2 cooks, institution and cafeteria per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.76). The average (mean) salary is $34,210, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Waco, TX
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,280 | $13.12 |
| 25th percentile | $28,980 | $13.93 |
| Median | $34,410 | $16.54 |
| 75th percentile | $38,580 | $18.55 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,180 | $20.76 |
| Average (mean) | $34,210 | $16.45 |
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 | $2,867.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,433.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,323.46 |
| Weekly | $661.73 |
| Hourly | $16.54 |
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 other metro areas nearby
| 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 |
| 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 |
See Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in every state or the Texas statewide figures.
Related jobs in Waco, TX
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $31,500 | $15.14 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $28,690 | $13.79 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,470 | $13.21 |
| Cooks, All Other | $27,710 | $13.32 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,750 | $13.34 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $23,010 | $11.06 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $35,240 | $16.94 |
| Bartender | $21,420 | $10.30 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $22,570 | $10.85 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,070 | $13.02 |
| Dishwasher | $29,520 | $14.19 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $29,220 | $14.05 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $42,660 | $20.51 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Waco, TX
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 Waco, TX?
The median salary for cooks, institution and cafeteria in the Waco, TX metro area is $34,410 a year, or $16.54 an hour. Pay ranges from $27,280 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,180 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Waco, TX?
The top 10% of cooks, institution and cafeteria in the Waco, TX metro area earn at least $43,180 a year. The top 25% earn $38,580 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Waco, TX?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $27,280 a year, and a quarter of cooks, institution and cafeteria earn $28,980 or less.
How many cooks, institution and cafeteria work in Waco, TX?
About 280 cooks, institution and cafeteria are employed in the Waco, TX metro area, not counting the self-employed.