Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Brownsville, TX

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

Median annual salary $24,580 -32.6% vs national
Median hourly $11.82
10th percentile $20,970
90th percentile $39,660
Employed locally 880
National median $36,450

Compare Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary & buying power

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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
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Brownsville, TX
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $20,970
    25th
    $20,970
    50th (median)
    $24,580
    75th
    $30,810
    90th
    $39,660

    Brownsville economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $51,334 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary vs area income 48% Median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary is 52% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $54,840
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $50,290
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $50,150
    Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $49,850
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $48,940
    Washington $48,260

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $36,620
    Midland, TX $36,100
    Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $35,630
    Sherman-Denison, TX $34,540
    Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $33,590
    San Angelo, TX $32,450

    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
    Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers $22,460

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria make per hour in Brownsville?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Brownsville, TX is $11.82, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $21.25 or more per hour.

    Is Brownsville above or below average for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salaries?

    The median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Brownsville, TX is 32.6% below the national median of $36,450. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Brownsville?

    Entry-level Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (10th percentile) earn around $20,970 per year in Brownsville, TX. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $20,970.