Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Austin, TX
Cooks, Restaurant in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metro area earn a median $36,810 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,757 take-home, or $2,646 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Austin, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,237
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,282
- Medicare (1.45%)$534
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$31,757
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Austin, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,540 | $13.24 | $24,289 | $2,024 |
| 25th percentile | $31,860 | $15.32 | $27,780 | $2,315 |
| Median (50th) | $36,810 | $17.70 | $31,757 | $2,646 |
| 75th percentile | $39,320 | $18.90 | $33,774 | $2,814 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,490 | $21.39 | $37,928 | $3,161 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,810 buys in Austin, TX
Prices in Austin, TX are 1.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.20× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $31,757 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,383 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 Austin, TX as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.11).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Austin, TX ranks #128 of 327 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $44,390 | $37,847 | $39,612 |
| 2 | Mount Vernon, WA | $46,450 | $39,503 | $38,561 |
| 3 | Kennewick, WA | $45,280 | $38,562 | $38,532 |
| 4 | Barnstable Town, MA | $46,930 | $37,762 | $38,395 |
| 5 | Spokane, WA | $44,230 | $37,719 | $37,589 |
| 6 | Bremerton, WA | $46,460 | $39,511 | $37,413 |
| 7 | Bellingham, WA | $45,370 | $38,635 | $37,388 |
| 8 | Pittsfield, MA | $43,970 | $35,531 | $37,360 |
| 128 | Austin, TX | $36,810 | $31,757 | $32,383 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 327 metros →
Cooks, Restaurant salaries elsewhere in Texas
- Midland, TX — $35,670
- Odessa, TX — $34,900
- San Antonio, TX — $34,860
- College Station, TX — $32,630
- Texarkana, TX — $29,490
- Houston, TX — $35,050
- Dallas, TX — $36,490
- Waco, TX — $31,500
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Austin, TX?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metro area is $36,810 a year, or about $17.70 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,860 and $39,320.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Austin, TX?
On the median $36,810 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $31,757 a year ($2,646 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Austin, TX a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 1.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,383 would in a typical U.S. city. Austin, TX ranks #128 of 327 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Austin, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Austin, TX is $1,562 a month ($1,852 for two bedrooms) — 59% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Austin, TX
- Chef and Head Cook — $62,400
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $40,650
- Cooks, Fast Food — $38,560
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $36,670
- Dishwasher — $35,360
- Food Preparation Worker — $34,880
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $32,610
- Cooks, Short Order — $31,520
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,310
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $29,130
- Waiter and Waitress — $27,260
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $27,260