Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Brownsville, TX

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Brownsville-Harlingen, TX

Median annual salary $36,130 -40.8% vs national
Median hourly $17.37
10th percentile $26,470
90th percentile $68,570
Employed locally 200
National median $60,990

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Chefs and Head Cooks
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Brownsville, TX
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $26,470
    25th
    $29,670
    50th (median)
    $36,130
    75th
    $49,660
    90th
    $68,570

    Brownsville economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $51,334 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 70% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 30% 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
    Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $55,900
    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

    Related occupations in Brownsville, TX

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $21,820
    Food Preparation Workers $23,220
    Waiters and Waitresses $22,580
    Cooks, Restaurant $27,640
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $29,820
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $24,580

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Brownsville, TX is $17.37, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $36.47 or more per hour.

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

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Brownsville, TX is 40.8% 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 Brownsville?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $26,470 per year in Brownsville, TX. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $29,670.