SOC 35-2011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Fast Food — Waco
Waco, TX · 10 metro areas compared
In Waco, TX the median wage is $27,470.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Waco, TX the median wage is $27,470. That is 11.1% lower than the national median of $30,890. Pay ranges from under $20,390 at the tenth percentile to more than $39,300 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $26,440 to $39,300.
The area has 500 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.94 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Within the state, Austin records the highest median at $38,560. Of the 340 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 332nd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $20,390 | −34.0% |
| 25th | $26,440 | −14.4% |
| Median (50th) | $27,470 | −11.1% |
| 75th | $39,300 | +27.2% |
| 90th | $39,300 | +27.2% |
| Mean | $30,150 | −2.4% |
Other metro areas in Texas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin | $38,560 | 4,540 | |
| 2 | Midland | $31,240 | 300 | |
| 3 | San Antonio | $30,110 | 4,470 | |
| 4 | Dallas | $30,010 | 6,490 | |
| 5 | Corpus Christi | $29,230 | 590 | |
| 6 | Killeen | $29,020 | 510 | |
| 7 | Longview | $28,990 | 540 | |
| 8 | Odessa | $27,520 | 210 | |
| 9 | McAllen | $26,740 | 1,040 | |
| 10 | Sherman | $26,660 | 190 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Waco run 2.9% below the national average, so the median of $27,470 goes as far as $28,290 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 8.4% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$27,470as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$28,290US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $27,470 a year, 11.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $20,390 to $39,300 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 500 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Austin, at $38,560.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Waco, TX?
The median annual wage is $27,470, or $13.21 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 $30,890, so pay in Waco, TX is 11.1% 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 Waco, TX earns more than $39,300 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $20,390 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 Austin, at $38,560 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 500 jobs in this occupation in Waco, 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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