Chefs and Head Cooks salary
in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX
- Middle 50%
- $35,130–$58,630
- vs U.S. median
- -37%
- Metro rank
- #159 of 160
Chefs and Head Cooks in the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX metro earn a median of $39,140 a year, based on BLS estimates for 230 jobs (May 2025). That is 37% below the U.S. median of $62,470 and 30% below the TX statewide median of $56,080. It ranks #159 of 160 metros with published figures for this job.
- SOURCEBLS OEWS, May 2025
- SAMPLE230 jobs (estimate)
- SCOPEall employers, all experience levels
- PERIODMay 2025 estimates
Full percentile breakdown
BLS · metro vs U.S.
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Chefs and Head Cooks pay in other TX metros
6 metros · BLS
| Metro | Median |
|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $64,100 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $62,400 |
| North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $52,030 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $48,900 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $45,400 |
| El Paso, TX | $43,020 |
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RELATED JOBS IN MCALLEN
Questions
What is the average Chefs and Head Cooks salary in McAllen?
The BLS median is $39,140 a year (May 2025). Half of the 230 jobs pay between $35,130 and $58,630. The 10th percentile is $27,150 and the 90th is $70,460.
Is McAllen a high-paying metro for Chefs and Head Cooks?
That is 37% below the U.S. median of $62,470 and 30% below the TX statewide median of $56,080. It ranks #159 of 160 U.S. metros with published BLS figures for this job.
How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make an hour in McAllen?
About $18.82 an hour at the median (the BLS annual figure of $39,140 divided by 2,080 hours, the conversion BLS uses). The middle half earn about $16.89–$28.19 an hour. Straight-time pay, before overtime and shift differentials.
Does this include experience levels?
BLS figures cover all experience levels together. Employer filings carry a DOL wage level, which the free checker can filter by (approximate).
Sources: U.S. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (national + state) (metro area estimates, all employers); employer rows from U.S. DOL OFLC LCA Disclosure Data, FY2026 Q3 (LCA_Disclosure_Data_FY2026_Q3.xlsx). Base pay only. Estimates can have sampling error, especially for smaller metros.