Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Waco, TX

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Waco, TX

Median annual salary $31,310 -14.1% vs national
Median hourly $15.06
10th percentile $25,700
90th percentile $38,890
Employed locally 510
National median $36,450

Compare Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary & buying power

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

Full tool →
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
in
Waco, TX
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $25,700
    25th
    $27,960
    50th (median)
    $31,310
    75th
    $35,120
    90th
    $38,890

    Waco economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.80% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $63,880 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary vs area income 49% Median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary is 51% 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 Waco, TX

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $27,270
    Waiters and Waitresses $28,120
    Food Preparation Workers $27,840
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $35,660
    Cooks, Restaurant $29,940
    Cooks, Fast Food $26,620

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Waco, TX is $15.06, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $20.76 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Waco, TX is 14.1% 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 Waco?

    Entry-level Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (10th percentile) earn around $25,700 per year in Waco, TX. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $27,960.