Cooks, Fast Food Salary in Brownsville, TX

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

Median annual salary $23,830 -21% vs national
Median hourly $11.46
10th percentile $18,870
90th percentile $28,300
Employed locally 490
National median $30,160

Compare Cooks, Fast Food salary & buying power

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Cooks, Fast Food
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Brownsville, TX
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $18,870
    25th
    $19,200
    50th (median)
    $23,830
    75th
    $26,370
    90th
    $28,300

    Brownsville economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $51,334 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Fast Food salary vs area income 46% Median Cooks, Fast Food salary is 54% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Fast Food

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $41,980
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $41,800
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $40,580
    Hawaii $40,300
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $39,260
    Napa, CA $39,210

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Fast Food salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $29,850
    Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $29,050
    Midland, TX $28,530
    Longview, TX $27,940
    Odessa, TX $27,830
    San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX $27,380

    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 Cooks, Fast Food make per hour in Brownsville?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Brownsville, TX is $11.46, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $16.83 or more per hour.

    Is Brownsville above or below average for Cooks, Fast Food salaries?

    The median Cooks, Fast Food salary in Brownsville, TX is 21% below the national median of $30,160. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Fast Food in Brownsville?

    Entry-level Cooks, Fast Food (10th percentile) earn around $18,870 per year in Brownsville, TX. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $19,200.