Restaurant Cook Salary in Houston, TX
Updated
The median restaurant cook in the Houston area earns $35,050 a year ($16.85 an hour), 6% below the U.S. median ($37,390) and 1% above the Texas median ($34,760). Half of the 32,710 restaurant cooks there earn between $28,290 and $37,090.
Median $35,050
10th: $24,60090th: $38,370
| Annual pay | Houston area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $24,600 | $23,330 | $28,700 |
| 25th percentile | $28,290 | $28,540 | $34,010 |
| Median | $35,050 | $34,760 | $37,390 |
| 75th percentile | $37,090 | $37,030 | $44,620 |
| 90th percentile | $38,370 | $42,810 | $47,900 |
| Average | $32,970 | $33,370 | $38,730 |
| Jobs | 32,710 | 126,620 | 1,409,890 |
Houston, TX ranks 48th of the 50 largest U.S. metro areas for restaurant cook pay. Highest: Seattle, WA ($47,730).
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Check my payRestaurant cook pay in other cities
- Austin, TX: $36,810
- Dallas, TX: $36,490
- San Antonio, TX: $34,860
- Seattle, WA: $47,730
- San Jose, CA: $47,170
- San Diego, CA: $46,440
- San Francisco, CA: $46,030
- Boston, MA: $45,830
- All cities
Similar jobs in Houston, TX
- Food Preparation Worker: $35,020
- Fast Food Worker: $27,570
- Waiter: $22,080
- Food Service Supervisor: $36,410
- Bartender: $22,770
- All jobs in Houston, TX
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, published May 15, 2026
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, www.bls.gov/oes. BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov.