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

Restaurant Cook Salary in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX

In the Brownsville-Harlingen, TX metropolitan area, restaurant cooks earned a median annual wage of $30,800 ($14.81/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $20,700/year and the 90th was $37,900/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Texas tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $26,928 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 86.0 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$30,800$14.81 per hour · $2,567 monthly
10th Percentile$20,700$9.95/hr base
25th Percentile$25,300$12.16/hr base
75th Percentile$32,800$15.77/hr base
90th Percentile$37,900$18.22/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

$30,800
$15,000$65,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$30,800
Net 87%
Fed 5%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$26,928After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,244Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,036Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate12.6%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$1,516 / yr
Texas state income taxNo state wage tax$0
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,356 / yr

Cooks, Restaurant 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 Cooks, Restaurant in the Brownsville-Harlingen, TX Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (TX)
10th Percentile$9.95/hr$1,725$20,700$18,656
25th Percentile$12.16/hr$2,108$25,300$22,445
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$14.81/hr$2,567$30,800$26,928
75th Percentile$15.77/hr$2,733$32,800$28,535
90th Percentile$18.22/hr$3,158$37,900$32,633

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

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$30,800 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 Ratio58.6%of area median income

Compare restaurant cooks salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in Texas:

Frequently Asked Questions About Cooks, Restaurant Pay in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX

What is the median salary for restaurant cooks in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX?

The official BLS median annual wage for restaurant cooks in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX is $30,800, which equates to approximately $2,567 per month or $14.81 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for restaurant cooks in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX?

The median hourly wage for restaurant cooks in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX is $14.81 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $9.95/hour and one in ten earned more than $18.22/hour.

What is the pay range for restaurant cooks in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX?

BLS wage estimates for restaurant cooks in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX span from $20,700 at the 10th percentile to $25,300 at the 25th, $32,800 at the 75th, and $37,900 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do restaurant cooks take home after taxes in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX?

On a median gross salary of $30,800, an estimated $26,928 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,036 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Texas in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $3,872 (an effective rate of 12.6%).

How much do restaurant cooks make per month in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX?

On the median annual salary of $30,800, gross monthly income is $2,567. After federal, FICA, and Texas state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,244 per month (or $1,036 every two weeks).

Is $30,800 a good salary in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX?

At $30,800, the median salary for restaurant cooks is 58.6% 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.