Cooks, Restaurant Salary in El Paso, TX
Cooks, Restaurant in the El Paso, TX metro area earn a median $28,990 a year — 22% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,473 take-home, or $2,123 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in El Paso, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,299
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,797
- Medicare (1.45%)$420
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$25,473
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in El Paso, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,780 | $10.47 | $19,546 | $1,629 |
| 25th percentile | $26,410 | $12.70 | $23,359 | $1,947 |
| Median (50th) | $28,990 | $13.94 | $25,473 | $2,123 |
| 75th percentile | $33,360 | $16.04 | $28,985 | $2,415 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $34,920 | $16.79 | $30,238 | $2,520 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $28,990 buys in El Paso, TX
Prices in El Paso, TX are 10.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 29% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $25,473 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,332 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cooks, Restaurant jobs are about as common in El Paso, TX as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.16).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
El Paso, TX ranks #98 of 101 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spokane, WA | $44,230 | $37,719 | $37,589 |
| 2 | Portland, ME | $46,560 | $37,630 | $36,943 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $47,730 | $40,531 | $36,471 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $47,170 | $38,588 | $34,946 |
| 5 | Worcester, MA | $44,250 | $35,742 | $34,863 |
| 6 | Denver, CO | $44,370 | $36,587 | $34,588 |
| 7 | Omaha, NE | $37,840 | $31,742 | $34,536 |
| 8 | Atlantic City, NJ | $40,250 | $33,830 | $34,221 |
| 98 | El Paso, TX | $28,990 | $25,473 | $28,332 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 101 metros →
About the job: cooks, restaurant
Prepare, season, and cook dishes such as soups, meats, vegetables, or desserts in restaurants. May order supplies, keep records and accounts, price items on menu, or plan menu.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +12.1% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Cooks, Restaurant salaries elsewhere in Texas
- Austin, TX — $36,810
- San Antonio, TX — $34,860
- Houston, TX — $35,050
- Dallas, TX — $36,490
- McAllen, TX — $28,380
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in El Paso, TX?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the El Paso, TX metro area is $28,990 a year, or about $13.94 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $26,410 and $33,360.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in El Paso, TX?
On the median $28,990 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $25,473 a year ($2,123 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is El Paso, TX a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 22% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 10.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,332 would in a typical U.S. city. El Paso, TX ranks #98 of 101 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in El Paso, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in El Paso, TX is $1,012 a month ($1,190 for two bedrooms) — 48% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in El Paso, TX
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $30,520
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $23,030
- Waiter and Waitress — $21,870