Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands
In Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands (TX), the median pay for cooks, institution and cafeteria is $17.15 an hour ($35,660 a year). About 4,890 people work in this job there.
That is 5% lower than the U.S. median ($37,450). It is about the same as the Texas median ($35,360).
Pay range for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands (TX)
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $11.90 | $24,750 |
| 25% of workers | $14.33 | $29,810 |
| Half of workers (median) | $17.15 | $35,660 |
| 75% of workers | $18.97 | $39,460 |
| 90% of workers | $22.03 | $45,810 |
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Texas metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $37,370 | 6,620 |
| College Station-Bryan | $36,890 | 460 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $36,670 | 2,210 |
| Midland | $36,470 | 130 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands (this page) | $35,660 | 4,890 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $35,250 | 2,290 |
| Killeen-Temple | $34,930 | 300 |
| Sherman-Denison | $34,480 | 130 |
| Waco | $34,410 | 280 |
| Odessa | $34,330 | 90 |
| San Angelo | $33,930 | 130 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen | $32,950 | 380 |
| Amarillo | $32,880 | 240 |
| Wichita Falls | $32,400 | 210 |
| Abilene | $31,850 | 250 |
| Tyler | $30,600 | 230 |
| Corpus Christi | $30,470 | 300 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur | $29,990 | 190 |
| Lubbock | $29,700 | 440 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission | $29,300 | 550 |
| Longview | $29,220 | 240 |
| Victoria | $28,860 | 80 |
| El Paso | $28,110 | 800 |
| Eagle Pass | $27,710 | 60 |
| Texarkana | $27,620 | 140 |
Texas unemployment rate: 4.4% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Typical education to start: No formal educational credential (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 1 to 3 months (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Short-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +2.8% over ten years, about as fast as average · about 62,900 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands (TX)
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,570 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,050 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $36,410 |
| Food Preparation Workers | $35,020 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $23,090 |
| Food Service Managers | $62,200 |
| Bakers | $34,290 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $45,400 |
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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.