Cooks, Restaurant Salary in McAllen, TX

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX

Median annual salary $27,950 -24.1% vs national
Median hourly $13.44
10th percentile $20,490
90th percentile $35,610
Employed locally 2,400
National median $36,830

Compare Cooks, Restaurant salary & buying power

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Cooks, Restaurant
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McAllen, TX
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $20,490
    25th
    $23,510
    50th (median)
    $27,950
    75th
    $31,170
    90th
    $35,610

    McAllen economic context

    Unemployment rate 6.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $52,281 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 53% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 47% 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 McAllen, TX

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers$22,690
    Waiters and Waitresses$22,900
    Food Preparation Workers$23,810
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$29,850
    Cooks, Fast Food$26,740
    Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$22,320

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in McAllen, TX is $13.44, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $16.63 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in McAllen, TX is 24.1% 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 McAllen?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $20,490 per year in McAllen, TX. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $23,510.