SOC 35-2014 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Restaurant — Laredo
Laredo, TX · 10 metro areas compared
In Laredo, TX the median wage is $28,120.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Laredo, TX the median wage is $28,120. That is 24.8% lower than the national median of $37,390. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $22,510 and $31,670. The lowest tenth earn under $19,800, while the highest tenth earn more than $34,940.
The area has 1,060 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.07 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Austin leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $36,810. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 227th of 255 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $19,800 | −47.0% |
| 25th | $22,510 | −39.8% |
| Median (50th) | $28,120 | −24.8% |
| 75th | $31,670 | −15.3% |
| 90th | $34,940 | −6.6% |
| Mean | $27,710 | −25.9% |
Other metro areas in Texas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin | $36,810 | 13,000 | |
| 2 | Dallas | $36,490 | 34,430 | |
| 3 | Midland | $35,670 | 900 | |
| 4 | Houston | $35,050 | 32,710 | |
| 5 | Odessa | $34,900 | 840 | |
| 6 | San Antonio | $34,860 | 10,860 | |
| 7 | College Station | $32,630 | 1,410 | |
| 8 | Sherman | $31,760 | 510 | |
| 9 | Waco | $31,500 | 1,140 | |
| 10 | Corpus Christi | $30,670 | 2,130 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Laredo run 2.9% below the national average, so the median of $28,120 goes as far as $28,960 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 22.5% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$28,120as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$28,960US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $28,120 a year, 24.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $19,800 to $34,940 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,060 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Austin, at $36,810.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Laredo, TX?
The median annual wage is $28,120, or $13.52 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 $37,390, so pay in Laredo, TX is 24.8% 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 Laredo, TX earns more than $34,940 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $19,800 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 $36,810 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,060 jobs in this occupation in Laredo, 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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