How much does a cook make in Houston?
$23,090a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area. That is $11.10 an hour or $1,924 a month.
- Hourly
- $11.10
- Vs. national median
- -25%
- Rank among cities
- 292 of 308
- Jobs in the area
- 7,950
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $21,530Median: $23,090Highest 10%: $38,210
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $21,530 | $10.35 | |
| 25th | $22,690 | $10.91 | |
| Median | $23,090 | $11.10 | |
| 75th | $29,010 | $13.95 | |
| 90th | $38,210 | $18.37 |
Other cities in Texas
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Austin, TX | $38,560 |
| Midland, TX | $31,240 |
| San Antonio, TX | $30,110 |
| Dallas, TX | $30,010 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $29,230 |
| Killeen, TX | $29,020 |
| Longview, TX | $28,990 |
| Odessa, TX | $27,520 |
| Waco, TX | $27,470 |
| McAllen, TX | $26,740 |
| Sherman, TX | $26,660 |
| Beaumont, TX | $26,610 |
| Amarillo, TX | $26,100 |
| Abilene, TX | $25,780 |
| Lubbock, TX | $25,500 |
| Brownsville, TX | $25,050 |
| San Angelo, TX | $24,960 |
| Texarkana, TX | $24,500 |
| El Paso, TX | $24,390 |
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 |
| Cook | $27,900 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $27,570 |
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 $11.10 ($23,090 a year).
Do cooks make more in Houston than the national average?
No: $23,090 against $30,890 nationally, 25% less.
How does Houston compare with the rest of Texas?
The median in Texas is $28,280, so Houston pays 18% less.
Where does Houston rank for cook pay?
292 of 308 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Houston?
The lowest-paid 10% make $21,530 or less a year; the top 10% make $38,210 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.