Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Brownsville, TX

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

Median annual salary $27,640 -25% vs national
Median hourly $13.29
10th percentile $19,510
90th percentile $35,280
Employed locally 1,520
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
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Brownsville, TX
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $19,510
    25th
    $23,050
    50th (median)
    $27,640
    75th
    $30,110
    90th
    $35,280

    Brownsville economic context

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

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Restaurant

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $48,320
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $46,970
    Portland-South Portland, ME $46,960
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $46,960
    Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area $46,500
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $46,340

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Restaurant salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $36,590
    Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $36,200
    Midland, TX $35,820
    San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX $34,650
    Odessa, TX $34,510
    Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $33,760

    Related occupations in Brownsville, TX

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $21,820
    Food Preparation Workers $23,220
    Waiters and Waitresses $22,580
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $29,820
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $24,580
    Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers $22,460

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Restaurant make per hour in Brownsville?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Brownsville, TX is $13.29, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $16.70 or more per hour.

    Is Brownsville above or below average for Cooks, Restaurant salaries?

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Brownsville, TX is 25% below the national median of $36,830. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

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

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $19,510 per year in Brownsville, TX. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $23,050.