Cook Salary in Texas (2026)
$16.71 per hour · take-home ≈ $30,110/year ($2,509/month) for a single filer
Cook pay range in Texas
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $23,330 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $28,540 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $34,760 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $37,030 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $42,810 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 126,620 Cook jobs in Texas (occupation code 35-2014, “Cooks, Restaurant”).
Gross vs. take-home in Texas
A median Cook salary of $34,760 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare (no state income tax in Texas), a single filer keeps about $30,110 — an effective tax rate of 13.4%.
| Gross (median) | $34,760 |
| Federal income tax | −$1,991 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,659 |
| Texas state income tax | −$0 |
| Take-home (annual) | $30,110 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,509 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Texas paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Cook make in Texas?
- The median Cook salary in Texas is $34,760 per year ($16.71 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $28,540 and $37,030.
- What is the take-home pay for a Cook in Texas?
- On the median salary of $34,760, a single filer in Texas takes home about $30,110 per year ($2,509 per month) after federal tax, FICA — an effective tax rate of 13.4%.
- How many Cook jobs are there in Texas?
- BLS counts 126,620 Cook jobs in Texas in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Cooks
Other salaries in Texas
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified Texas state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for Texas.