SOC 35-2014 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Restaurant — Lubbock
Lubbock, TX · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Lubbock, TX is $30,250 per year, 19.1% below the national median of $37,390.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Lubbock, TX is $30,250 per year, 19.1% below the national median of $37,390. Half of workers earn between $27,060 and $35,040. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $22,030 and the ninetieth at $36,500.
The area has 1,700 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 10.2 of every thousand jobs. Within the state, Austin records the highest median at $36,810. Of the 398 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 356th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $22,030 | −41.1% |
| 25th | $27,060 | −27.6% |
| Median (50th) | $30,250 | −19.1% |
| 75th | $35,040 | −6.3% |
| 90th | $36,500 | −2.4% |
| Mean | $30,420 | −18.6% |
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 Lubbock run 2.9% below the national average, so the median of $30,250 goes as far as $31,153 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 16.7% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$30,250as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$31,153US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $30,250 a year, 19.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $22,030 to $36,500 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,700 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 Lubbock, TX?
The median annual wage is $30,250, or $14.54 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 Lubbock, TX is 19.1% 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 Lubbock, TX earns more than $36,500 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $22,030 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 1,700 jobs in this occupation in Lubbock, 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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