Cooks, Short Order salary in Texas
Cooks, Short Order in Texas earn a median of $25,320 a year ($12.18 an hour), based on BLS data for 7,540 workers.
Pay ranges from $21,850 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,320 for the top 10%. That is 29% lower than the national median of $35,880. Texas ranks 46th of 49 states for cooks, short order pay. There are 0.54 cooks, short order per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.60). The average (mean) salary is $27,610, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, short order in Texas
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,850 | $10.51 |
| 25th percentile | $23,140 | $11.13 |
| Median | $25,320 | $12.18 |
| 75th percentile | $31,070 | $14.94 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,320 | $17.46 |
| Average (mean) | $27,610 | $13.28 |
Half of cooks, short order 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 | $2,110 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,055 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $973.85 |
| Weekly | $486.92 |
| Hourly | $12.18 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Short Order salary in cities in Texas
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $33,260 | n/a |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $31,520 | 520 |
| Midland, TX | $28,390 | 90 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $25,720 | 1,500 |
| Lubbock, TX | $25,550 | 160 |
| Amarillo, TX | $25,500 | 130 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $25,320 | 1,770 |
| Odessa, TX | $24,350 | 70 |
| Tyler, TX | $22,900 | 170 |
| Longview, TX | $22,880 | 180 |
| Abilene, TX | $22,840 | 110 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | $22,430 | n/a |
| San Angelo, TX | $22,320 | 40 |
| El Paso, TX | $21,610 | n/a |
| Laredo, TX | $21,490 | 100 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, short order
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Arizona | $46,630 |
| Rhode Island | $46,250 |
| Massachusetts | $44,290 |
| Hawaii | $43,110 |
| California | $42,930 |
| Washington | $42,760 |
| Colorado | $42,450 |
| Connecticut | $42,450 |
| District of Columbia | $42,450 |
| New Jersey | $40,720 |
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, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,360 | $17.00 |
| 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 35-2015. 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, short order make in Texas?
The median salary for cooks, short order in Texas is $25,320 a year, or $12.18 an hour. Pay ranges from $21,850 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,320 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in Texas?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in Texas earn at least $36,320 a year. The top 25% earn $31,070 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in Texas?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $21,850 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $23,140 or less.
How many cooks, short order work in Texas?
About 7,540 cooks, short order are employed in Texas, not counting the self-employed.