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
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 #313 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 |
| 313 | 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 327 metros →
Cooks, Restaurant salaries elsewhere in Texas
- Austin, TX — $36,810
- 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
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 #313 of 327 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
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $28,110
- Dishwasher — $26,850
- Food Preparation Worker — $25,810
- Cooks, Fast Food — $24,390
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $23,300
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $23,030
- Waiter and Waitress — $21,870
- Bartender — $19,680
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $19,620