Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands
In Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands (TX), the median pay for chefs and head cooks is $21.83 an hour ($45,400 a year). About 3,610 people work in this job there.
That is 27% lower than the U.S. median ($62,470). It is 19% lower than the Texas median ($56,080).
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands (TX)
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $13.25 | $27,560 |
| 25% of workers | $18.65 | $38,790 |
| Half of workers (median) | $21.83 | $45,400 |
| 75% of workers | $32.98 | $68,600 |
| 90% of workers | $42.89 | $89,200 |
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Texas metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $64,100 | 3,550 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $62,400 | 1,710 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur | $58,440 | 120 |
| Midland | $58,100 | 100 |
| College Station-Bryan | $57,920 | 170 |
| Lubbock | $56,950 | 100 |
| Killeen-Temple | $53,000 | 110 |
| Tyler | $52,050 | 90 |
| Texarkana | $50,270 | 50 |
| San Angelo | $50,190 | 50 |
| Odessa | $49,820 | 70 |
| Laredo | $49,670 | 60 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $48,900 | 1,260 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen | $47,850 | 120 |
| Abilene | $47,840 | 60 |
| Longview | $46,870 | 90 |
| Corpus Christi | $46,150 | 150 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands (this page) | $45,400 | 3,610 |
| Amarillo | $45,370 | 80 |
| El Paso | $43,020 | 320 |
| Sherman-Denison | $43,020 | 40 |
| Waco | $42,660 | 110 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission | $39,140 | 230 |
Texas unemployment rate: 4.4% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for chefs and head cooks
- Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 2 to 4 years (O*NET)
- Experience usually needed to start: 5 years or more (BLS)
- Job outlook: +6.6% over ten years, faster than average · about 25,200 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands (TX)
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Waiters and Waitresses | $22,080 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,050 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $36,410 |
| Food Service Managers | $62,200 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,660 |
| Bakers | $34,290 |
| Food Batchmakers | $33,830 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $25,720 |
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.