Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Houston, TX

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX

Median annual salary $54,160 -11.2% vs national
Median hourly $26.04
10th percentile $30,030
90th percentile $83,530
Employed locally 4,290
National median $60,990

Compare Chefs and Head Cooks salary & buying power

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

Full tool →
Chefs and Head Cooks
in
Houston, TX
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $30,030
    25th
    $36,900
    50th (median)
    $54,160
    75th
    $64,190
    90th
    $83,530

    Houston economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $80,458 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 67% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 33% 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
    Amarillo, TX $49,990
    Corpus Christi, TX $49,990
    San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX $49,370

    Related occupations in Houston, TX

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers$26,960
    Waiters and Waitresses$26,830
    Cooks, Restaurant$33,760
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$37,200
    Food Preparation Workers$29,770
    Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$26,370

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Houston, TX is $26.04, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $42.89 or more per hour.

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

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Houston, TX is 11.2% 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 Houston?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $30,030 per year in Houston, TX. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $36,900.