Food Preparation Workers pay in Texas
In Texas, the median pay for food preparation workers is $14.74 an hour ($30,650 a year). About 81,280 people work in this job there.
That is 13% lower than the U.S. median ($35,320). Texas ranks 38th of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for food preparation workers in Texas
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $10.96 | $22,790 |
| 25% of workers | $13.04 | $27,110 |
| Half of workers (median) | $14.74 | $30,650 |
| 75% of workers | $17.81 | $37,050 |
| 90% of workers | $20.41 | $42,450 |
Food Preparation Workers pay in Texas metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Wichita Falls | $35,700 | 580 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $35,020 | 16,240 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $34,880 | 9,350 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $34,390 | 7,910 |
| College Station-Bryan | $34,380 | 1,680 |
| Midland | $33,200 | 500 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $30,740 | 21,700 |
| Odessa | $30,550 | 470 |
| Killeen-Temple | $30,300 | 910 |
| Amarillo | $29,160 | 770 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur | $28,700 | 880 |
| Waco | $28,690 | 940 |
| San Angelo | $28,640 | 340 |
| Sherman-Denison | $28,620 | 290 |
| Lubbock | $28,550 | 1,140 |
| Corpus Christi | $28,430 | 1,810 |
| Abilene | $28,250 | 410 |
| Tyler | $28,150 | 730 |
| Laredo | $27,780 | 700 |
| Victoria | $27,680 | 230 |
| Eagle Pass | $27,390 | 90 |
| Texarkana | $27,290 | 310 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission | $26,960 | 1,750 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen | $26,180 | 1,390 |
| Longview | $26,150 | 700 |
Texas unemployment rate: 4.4% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for food preparation workers
- Typical education to start: No formal educational credential (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 3 to 6 months (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Short-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: -3% over ten years, declining · about 135,700 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in Texas
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,740 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $34,760 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $21,550 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,280 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,360 |
| Bakers | $33,790 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $29,300 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $56,080 |
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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.