Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Waco, TX

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

Median annual salary $29,940 -18.7% vs national
Median hourly $14.39
10th percentile $22,090
90th percentile $36,770
Employed locally 1,100
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
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Waco, TX
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $22,090
    25th
    $28,010
    50th (median)
    $29,940
    75th
    $35,470
    90th
    $36,770

    Waco economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.80% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $63,880 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 47% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 53% 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 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, Fast Food $26,620
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $31,310

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Waco, TX is $14.39, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $17.97 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Waco, TX is 18.7% 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 Waco?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $22,090 per year in Waco, TX. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $28,010.