Cooks, Short Order Salary in Houston, TX

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX

Median annual salary $30,710 -13.8% vs national
Median hourly $14.76
10th percentile $22,520
90th percentile $37,180
Employed locally 560
National median $35,620

Compare Cooks, Short Order salary & buying power

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

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Cooks, Short Order
in
Houston, TX
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $22,520
    25th
    $26,530
    50th (median)
    $30,710
    75th
    $36,280
    90th
    $37,180

    Houston economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $80,458 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Short Order salary vs area income 38% Median Cooks, Short Order salary is 62% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Short Order

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $48,970
    Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $48,700
    Barnstable Town, MA $46,830
    Arizona $46,240
    Washington $46,010
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $46,010

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Short Order salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Midland, TX $32,380
    Killeen-Temple, TX $32,130
    Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $30,970
    San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX $30,500
    Wichita Falls, TX $29,270
    Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $28,770

    Related occupations in Houston, TX

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $26,960
    Waiters and Waitresses $26,830
    Cooks, Restaurant $33,760
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $37,200
    Food Preparation Workers $29,770
    Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers $26,370

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Short Order make per hour in Houston?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Short Order in Houston, TX is $14.76, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $17.46 or more per hour.

    Is Houston above or below average for Cooks, Short Order salaries?

    The median Cooks, Short Order salary in Houston, TX is 13.8% below the national median of $35,620. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Short Order in Houston?

    Entry-level Cooks, Short Order (10th percentile) earn around $22,520 per year in Houston, TX. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $26,530.