SOC 35-2015 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Short Order — Houston
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Cooks, Short Order in Houston, TX is $25,720 per year, substantially below the national median of $35,880 — a gap of 28.3%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Cooks, Short Order in Houston, TX is $25,720 per year, substantially below the national median of $35,880 — a gap of 28.3%. Half of workers earn between $23,570 and $29,030. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $23,440 and the ninetieth at $36,320.
Employment stands at 1,500, or 0.5 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, San Antonio records the highest median at $33,260. Of the 699 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 692nd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $23,440 | −34.7% |
| 25th | $23,570 | −34.3% |
| Median (50th) | $25,720 | −28.3% |
| 75th | $29,030 | −19.1% |
| 90th | $36,320 | +1.2% |
| Mean | $27,730 | −22.7% |
Other metro areas in Texas
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Houston run 2.9% below the national average, so the median of $25,720 goes as far as $26,488 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 26.2% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$25,720as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$26,488US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $25,720 a year, 28.3% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $23,440 to $36,320 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,500 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Antonio, at $33,260.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Short Order in Houston, TX?
The median annual wage is $25,720, or $12.36 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 $35,880, so pay in Houston, TX is 28.3% 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 Houston, TX earns more than $36,320 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $23,440 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 San Antonio, at $33,260 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,500 jobs in this occupation in Houston, 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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