Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Brownsville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,720 a year or less, while the top 10% make $44,200 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Brownsville earn between $26,580 and $39,190.
- $23K10th
- $27K25th
- $33KMedian
- $39K75th
- $44K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $32,710 | $2,726 | $15.73 |
| Median | $32,950 | $2,746 | $15.84 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $26,580 | $2,215 | $12.78 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $39,190 | $3,266 | $18.84 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Brownsville vs. Texas and the U.S.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria in Brownsville earn 6% less than the Texas average ($34,870) and 16% less than the U.S. average ($38,810). At the median the gap is -12% against the U.S. median of $37,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brownsville | $32,710 | $32,950 | $22,720 | $44,200 | 380 |
| Texas | $34,870 | $35,360 | $24,770 | $44,840 | 24,740 |
| United States | $38,810 | $37,450 | $28,480 | $49,670 | 441,050 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary after taxes in Brownsville
On the average salary of $32,710, a single filer in Brownsville takes home about $28,462 a year, or $2,372 a month and $1,095 every two weeks. Taxes take 13% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Brownsville a good place for cooks, institution and cafeteria? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Brownsville area are 14% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 86.0), so the average $32,710 buys what about $38,046 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Brownsville ($36,490). A typical home costs $207,150, or 6.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other Texas cities
Brownsville ranks 14th of 26 Texas metro areas for this job; Dallas pays the most ($37,710).
- Dallas$37,710
- Midland$37,500
- Austin$37,120
- Houston$35,500
- San Antonio$35,290
- Killeen$34,770
- Waco$34,210
- Sherman$34,160
- College Station$34,010
- Brownsville$32,710
Highest-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($57,770).
- Kahului, HI$57,770
- San Jose, CA$54,290
- Seattle, WA$53,820
- Barnstable, MA$52,850
- San Francisco, CA$52,440
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Brownsville: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Brownsville?
$15.73 an hour on average, and $15.84 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Brownsville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,720 a year and the 25th percentile is $26,580, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Brownsville?
About $28,462 a year ($2,372 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $32,710. Texas has no state income tax.
Do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more in Brownsville than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% less than the U.S. average for this job ($38,810).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-2012; area Brownsville-Harlingen, TX (15180). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.0%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.84, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.