Brownsville-Harlingen, TX · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Food Preparation Worker Salary in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX

In the Brownsville-Harlingen, TX metropolitan area, food preparation workers earned a median annual wage of $27,200 ($13.08/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $20,200/year and the 90th was $37,600/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Texas tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $24,009 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 86.0 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$27,200$13.08 per hour · $2,267 monthly
10th Percentile$20,200$9.71/hr base
25th Percentile$24,000$11.54/hr base
75th Percentile$32,800$15.77/hr base
90th Percentile$37,600$18.08/hr base

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-Home Pay Explorer

$27,200
$15,000$55,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$27,200
Net 88%
Fed 4%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$24,009After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,001Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$923Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate11.7%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$1,110 / yr
Texas state income taxNo state wage tax$0
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,081 / yr

Food Preparation Workers Wage Percentiles in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX

Official survey estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Full-time calculations assume standard 2,080 annual working hours.

Wage Distribution for Food Preparation Workers in the Brownsville-Harlingen, TX Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (TX)
10th Percentile$9.71/hr$1,683$20,200$18,245
25th Percentile$11.54/hr$2,000$24,000$21,374
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$13.08/hr$2,267$27,200$24,009
75th Percentile$15.77/hr$2,733$32,800$28,535
90th Percentile$18.08/hr$3,133$37,600$32,392

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$27,200 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$52,601Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index86.014% below national average
Individual vs Household Ratio51.7%of area median income

Compare food preparation workers salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in Texas:

Frequently Asked Questions About Food Preparation Workers Pay in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX

What is the median salary for food preparation workers in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX?

The official BLS median annual wage for food preparation workers in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX is $27,200, which equates to approximately $2,267 per month or $13.08 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for food preparation workers in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX?

The median hourly wage for food preparation workers in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX is $13.08 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $9.71/hour and one in ten earned more than $18.08/hour.

What is the pay range for food preparation workers in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX?

BLS wage estimates for food preparation workers in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX span from $20,200 at the 10th percentile to $24,000 at the 25th, $32,800 at the 75th, and $37,600 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do food preparation workers take home after taxes in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX?

On a median gross salary of $27,200, an estimated $24,009 lands in net take-home pay per year ($923 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Texas in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $3,191 (an effective rate of 11.7%).

How much do food preparation workers make per month in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX?

On the median annual salary of $27,200, gross monthly income is $2,267. After federal, FICA, and Texas state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,001 per month (or $923 every two weeks).

Is $27,200 a good salary in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX?

At $27,200, the median salary for food preparation workers is 51.7% of the Brownsville-Harlingen, TX median household income ($52,601). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 86.0, making regional consumer goods and services 14% cheaper than the U.S. average.