SOC 35-1011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chefs and Head Cooks — Houston
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay in Houston, TX is $45,400 a year, 27.3% 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 Houston, TX is $45,400 a year, 27.3% under the national median of $62,470 for this occupation. Half of workers earn between $38,790 and $68,600. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $27,560 and the ninetieth at $89,200.
The area has 3,610 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 1.1 of every thousand jobs. 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 504th of 699 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $27,560 | −55.9% |
| 25th | $38,790 | −37.9% |
| Median (50th) | $45,400 | −27.3% |
| 75th | $68,600 | +9.8% |
| 90th | $89,200 | +42.8% |
| Mean | $54,810 | −12.3% |
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 Houston run 2.9% below the national average, so the median of $45,400 goes as far as $46,756 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 25.2% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$45,400as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$46,756US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $45,400 a year, 27.3% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $27,560 to $89,200 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 3,610 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 Houston, TX?
The median annual wage is $45,400, or $21.83 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 Houston, TX is 27.3% 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 Houston, TX earns more than $89,200 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $27,560 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 3,610 jobs in this occupation in Houston, 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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