Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Houston, TX
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $35,660 a year — 5% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,833 take-home, or $2,569 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,099
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,211
- Medicare (1.45%)$517
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$30,833
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 Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,750 | $11.90 | $21,992 | $1,833 |
| 25th percentile | $29,810 | $14.33 | $26,132 | $2,178 |
| Median (50th) | $35,660 | $17.14 | $30,833 | $2,569 |
| 75th percentile | $39,460 | $18.97 | $33,886 | $2,824 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,810 | $22.02 | $38,988 | $3,249 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,660 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, institution and cafeteria's $30,833 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,261 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 Houston, TX than nationally (location quotient 0.52), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #28 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 |
| 28 | Houston, TX | $35,660 | $30,833 | $31,261 |
*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
- Dallas, TX — $37,370
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Houston, TX?
The median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $35,660 a year, or about $17.14 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,810 and $39,460.
What is a cooks, institution and cafeteria’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $35,660 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $30,833 a year ($2,569 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a cooks, institution and cafeteria?
Pay here is 5% below the national median of $37,450. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,261 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #28 of 37 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, institution and cafeteria afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 51% of a median cooks, institution and cafeteria’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Houston, TX
- Chef and Head Cook — $45,400
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $36,410
- Cooks, Restaurant — $35,050
- Food Preparation Worker — $35,020
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $29,050
- Dishwasher — $28,600
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,570
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $26,730
- Cooks, Fast Food — $23,090
- Bartender — $22,770
- Waiter and Waitress — $22,080
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $21,850