How much does a cook make in Houston?
$27,900a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area. That is $13.41 an hour or $2,325 a month.
- Hourly
- $13.41
- Vs. national median
- -26%
- Rank among cities
- 53 of 63
- Jobs in the area
- 860
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $27,040Median: $27,900Highest 10%: $43,170
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $27,040 | $13.00 | |
| 25th | $27,040 | $13.00 | |
| Median | $27,900 | $13.41 | |
| 75th | $35,250 | $16.95 | |
| 90th | $43,170 | $20.75 |
Other cities in Texas
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Midland, TX | $40,040 |
| Dallas, TX | $35,500 |
| Austin, TX | $35,070 |
| San Antonio, TX | $33,000 |
| Waco, TX | $27,710 |
| El Paso, TX | $27,460 |
| College Station, TX | $25,700 |
| Lubbock, TX | $24,650 |
| Laredo, TX | $24,440 |
Related jobs in Houston
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $45,400 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $36,410 |
| Cook | $35,660 |
| Cook | $35,050 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,020 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $31,200 |
| Food Server | $29,050 |
| Dishwasher | $28,600 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $27,570 |
| Host and Hostess | $26,730 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in Houston?
The median hourly pay in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $13.41 ($27,900 a year).
Do cooks make more in Houston than the national average?
No: $27,900 against $37,690 nationally, 26% less.
How does Houston compare with the rest of Texas?
The median in Texas is $32,150, so Houston pays 13% less.
Where does Houston rank for cook pay?
53 of 63 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Houston?
The lowest-paid 10% make $27,040 or less a year; the top 10% make $43,170 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.