SOC 35-2014 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Restaurant — Odessa
Odessa, TX · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Odessa, TX is $34,900 per year, close to the national median of $37,390 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Odessa, TX is $34,900 per year, close to the national median of $37,390 for the same occupation. Half of workers earn between $28,690 and $37,280. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $22,770 and the ninetieth at $38,320.
The area has 840 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 10.3 of every thousand jobs. Within the state, Austin records the highest median at $36,810. Of the 241 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 210th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $22,770 | −39.1% |
| 25th | $28,690 | −23.3% |
| Median (50th) | $34,900 | −6.7% |
| 75th | $37,280 | −0.3% |
| 90th | $38,320 | +2.5% |
| Mean | $33,210 | −11.2% |
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 | San Antonio | $34,860 | 10,860 | |
| 6 | College Station | $32,630 | 1,410 | |
| 7 | Sherman | $31,760 | 510 | |
| 8 | Waco | $31,500 | 1,140 | |
| 9 | Corpus Christi | $30,670 | 2,130 | |
| 10 | Amarillo | $30,560 | 1,300 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Odessa run 2.9% below the national average, so the median of $34,900 goes as far as $35,942 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 3.9% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$34,900as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$35,942US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $34,900 a year, 6.7% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $22,770 to $38,320 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 840 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 Odessa, TX?
The median annual wage is $34,900, or $16.78 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 Odessa, TX is 6.7% 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 $38,320 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $22,770 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 840 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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