SOC 35-1011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chefs and Head Cooks — Odessa
Odessa, TX · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Odessa, TX is $49,820 a year, trailing the national median of $62,470 by 20.2%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Odessa, TX is $49,820 a year, trailing the national median of $62,470 by 20.2%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $39,810 and $67,000. The lowest tenth earn under $37,880, while the highest tenth earn more than $80,850.
The area has 70 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.65 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Within the state, Dallas records the highest median at $64,100. Of the 241 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 128th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,880 | −39.4% |
| 25th | $39,810 | −36.3% |
| Median (50th) | $49,820 | −20.2% |
| 75th | $67,000 | +7.3% |
| 90th | $80,850 | +29.4% |
| Mean | $56,640 | −9.3% |
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 Odessa run 2.9% below the national average, so the median of $49,820 goes as far as $51,308 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 17.9% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$49,820as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$51,308US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $49,820 a year, 20.2% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $37,880 to $80,850 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 70 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 Odessa, TX?
The median annual wage is $49,820, or $23.95 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 Odessa, TX is 20.2% 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 Odessa, TX earns more than $80,850 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $37,880 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 70 jobs in this occupation in Odessa, 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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