Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Dallas, TX
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area earn a median $37,370 a year — 0% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $32,207 take-home, or $2,684 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Dallas, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,304
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,317
- Medicare (1.45%)$542
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$32,207
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay by experience in Dallas, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,440 | $13.67 | $25,030 | $2,086 |
| 25th percentile | $32,840 | $15.79 | $28,567 | $2,381 |
| Median (50th) | $37,370 | $17.97 | $32,207 | $2,684 |
| 75th percentile | $41,560 | $19.98 | $35,573 | $2,964 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,480 | $22.35 | $39,527 | $3,294 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,370 buys in Dallas, TX
Prices in Dallas, TX are 3.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.18× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, institution and cafeteria's $32,207 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,241 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, Institution and Cafeteria jobs are less concentrated in Dallas, TX than nationally (location quotient 0.58), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria, adjusted for cost of living
Dallas, TX ranks #29 of 37 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $51,530 | $43,584 | $39,218 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $51,880 | $42,029 | $38,062 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $48,530 | $38,967 | $35,992 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $45,070 | $37,119 | $35,090 |
| 5 | Minneapolis, MN | $44,830 | $36,621 | $34,936 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $49,140 | $40,027 | $34,622 |
| 7 | San Diego, CA | $47,100 | $38,537 | $34,443 |
| 8 | Riverside, CA | $44,470 | $36,565 | $34,352 |
| 29 | Dallas, TX | $37,370 | $32,207 | $31,241 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 37 metros →
About the job: cooks, institution and cafeteria
Prepare and cook large quantities of food for institutions, such as schools, hospitals, or cafeterias.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.8% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salaries elsewhere in Texas
- Houston, TX — $35,660
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Dallas, TX?
The median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area is $37,370 a year, or about $17.97 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $32,840 and $41,560.
What is a cooks, institution and cafeteria’s take-home pay in Dallas, TX?
On the median $37,370 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $32,207 a year ($2,684 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Dallas, TX a good place to work as a cooks, institution and cafeteria?
Pay here is 0% below the national median of $37,450. Local prices are 3.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,241 would in a typical U.S. city. Dallas, TX ranks #29 of 37 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, institution and cafeteria afford rent in Dallas, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Dallas, TX is $1,586 a month ($1,858 for two bedrooms) — 59% of a median cooks, institution and cafeteria’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Dallas, TX
- Chef and Head Cook — $64,100
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $37,730
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,490
- Dishwasher — $31,200
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $31,160
- Food Preparation Worker — $30,740
- Cooks, Fast Food — $30,010
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $28,890
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,070
- Bartender — $24,170
- Waiter and Waitress — $24,160
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $21,050