SOC 35-1011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chefs and Head Cooks — Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi, TX · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay in Corpus Christi, TX is $46,150 a year, 26.1% under the national median of $62,470 for this occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay in Corpus Christi, TX is $46,150 a year, 26.1% under the national median of $62,470 for this occupation. Half of workers earn between $35,830 and $63,180. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $35,690 and the ninetieth at $78,300.
The area has 150 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.62 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Dallas leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $64,100. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 242nd of 399 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,690 | −42.9% |
| 25th | $35,830 | −42.6% |
| Median (50th) | $46,150 | −26.1% |
| 75th | $63,180 | +1.1% |
| 90th | $78,300 | +25.3% |
| Mean | $51,320 | −17.8% |
Other metro areas in Texas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dallas | $64,100 | 3,550 | |
| 2 | Austin | $62,400 | 1,710 | |
| 3 | Beaumont | $58,440 | 120 | |
| 4 | Midland | $58,100 | 100 | |
| 5 | College Station | $57,920 | 170 | |
| 6 | Lubbock | $56,950 | 100 | |
| 7 | Killeen | $53,000 | 110 | |
| 8 | Tyler | $52,050 | 90 | |
| 9 | Texarkana | $50,270 | 50 | |
| 10 | San Angelo | $50,190 | 50 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Corpus Christi run 2.9% below the national average, so the median of $46,150 goes as far as $47,528 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 23.9% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$46,150as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$47,528US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $46,150 a year, 26.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $35,690 to $78,300 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 150 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Dallas, at $64,100.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Corpus Christi, TX?
The median annual wage is $46,150, or $22.19 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $62,470, so pay in Corpus Christi, TX is 26.1% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Corpus Christi, TX earns more than $78,300 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $35,690 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Dallas, at $64,100 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 150 jobs in this occupation in Corpus Christi, TX. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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