Cooks, Restaurant Salary in McAllen, TX
Cooks, Restaurant in the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX metro area earn a median $28,380 a year — 24% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $24,981 take-home, or $2,082 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in McAllen, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,228
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,760
- Medicare (1.45%)$412
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$24,981
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in McAllen, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $19,850 | $9.54 | $17,956 | $1,496 |
| 25th percentile | $22,960 | $11.04 | $20,518 | $1,710 |
| Median (50th) | $28,380 | $13.64 | $24,981 | $2,082 |
| 75th percentile | $32,480 | $15.62 | $28,278 | $2,356 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $34,590 | $16.63 | $29,973 | $2,498 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $28,380 buys in McAllen, TX
Prices in McAllen, TX are 14.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 44% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $24,981 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,083 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 McAllen, TX as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.96).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
McAllen, TX ranks #96 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 |
| 96 | McAllen, TX | $28,380 | $24,981 | $29,083 |
*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
- El Paso, TX — $28,990
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in McAllen, TX?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX metro area is $28,380 a year, or about $13.64 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $22,960 and $32,480.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in McAllen, TX?
On the median $28,380 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $24,981 a year ($2,082 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is McAllen, TX a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 24% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 14.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,083 would in a typical U.S. city. McAllen, TX ranks #96 of 101 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in McAllen, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in McAllen, TX is $847 a month ($1,060 for two bedrooms) — 41% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in McAllen, TX
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $30,270
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $22,790
- Waiter and Waitress — $20,650