Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Texas
Chefs and Head Cooks in Texas earn a median annual wage of $56,080 —10.2% below the national median of $62,470. That ranks TX #41 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.
Wage distribution
How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.
Employment is only 0.73× as concentrated as the national average — this occupation is relatively scarce in Texas.
Highest-paying states for chefs and head cooks
All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. Texas is highlighted.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $79,930 | $38.43 | 740 | 1.15 |
| 2 | Hawaii | $77,360 | $37.19 | 1,240 | 1.53 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $76,420 | $36.74 | 2,020 | 2.23 |
| 4 | Washington | $76,010 | $36.54 | 5,320 | 1.16 |
| 5 | North Dakota | $74,740 | $35.93 | 100 | 0.19 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $74,280 | $35.71 | 9,100 | 1.65 |
| 7 | Wyoming | $73,170 | $35.18 | 240 | 0.67 |
| 8 | South Carolina | $71,860 | $34.55 | 2,650 | 0.89 |
| 9 | New York | $70,670 | $33.98 | 17,430 | 1.40 |
| 10 | Tennessee | $69,810 | $33.56 | 3,820 | 0.91 |
Related occupations in Texas
Occupations in the same job family, compared within Texas.
| Occupation | Texas median | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,740 | $31,200 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $23,240 | $35,230 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $34,760 | $37,390 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $36,480 | $44,080 |
| Food Preparation Workers | $30,650 | $35,320 |
| Bartenders | $22,690 | $34,340 |
Frequently asked questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make in Texas?
The median annual wage for chefs and head cooks in Texas is $56,080, or $26.96 per hour. That is 10.2% below the national median of $62,470.
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Texas?
Workers at the 10th percentile earn $31,380 per year ($15.09/hour). The 25th percentile is $42,030.
How many people work as chefs and head cooks in Texas?
About 13,270 people work in this occupation in Texas, or 0.9 per 1,000 jobs statewide.
Is Texas a good state for chefs and head cooks?
Texas ranks #41 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is only 0.73x as concentrated as the national average, so this occupation is relatively scarce in Texas.
Which state pays chefs and head cooks the most?
Rhode Island has the highest median wage at $79,930 per year, followed by Hawaii ($77,360) and District of Columbia ($76,420).