Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Austin, TX

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX

Median annual salary $55,900 -8.3% vs national
Median hourly $26.87
10th percentile $36,210
90th percentile $92,760
Employed locally 1,770
National median $60,990

Compare Chefs and Head Cooks salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Austin, TX stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Chefs and Head Cooks
in
Austin, TX
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $36,210
    25th
    $44,220
    50th (median)
    $55,900
    75th
    $68,760
    90th
    $92,760

    Austin economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $97,638 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 57% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 43% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Chefs and Head Cooks

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $87,410
    Morgantown, WV $87,280
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $85,370
    Terre Haute, IN $83,880
    East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area $81,720
    Hawaii $81,200

    Nearby metros — Chefs and Head Cooks salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $55,790
    Midland, TX $54,220
    Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $54,160
    Amarillo, TX $49,990
    Corpus Christi, TX $49,990
    San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX $49,370

    Related occupations in Austin, TX

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $28,920
    Waiters and Waitresses $29,740
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $37,240
    Cooks, Restaurant $36,590
    Food Preparation Workers $33,310
    Bartenders $30,160

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make per hour in Austin?

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Austin, TX is $26.87, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $44.85 or more per hour.

    Is Austin above or below average for Chefs and Head Cooks salaries?

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Austin, TX is 8.3% below the national median of $60,990. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Chefs and Head Cooks in Austin?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $36,210 per year in Austin, TX. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $44,220.