Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary — Waco, Texas

The average Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Waco, Texas earns $34,210 a year.

$34,210 / year, mean
↓ 13.7% below national average 77th percentile in Texas

Waco pays well above most of Texas for this role, landing in the top third statewide. That's noticeably below the national average for cooks, institution and cafeteria, worth factoring into any relocation math. Cost of living here is close to the national average — not a major factor either way. This is a high-confidence estimate, based on a large sample of reported wages.

Percentile within Texas

0th 50th 100th
Employment (this metro)
280
Estimate confidence
RSE 0.9%
Cost of living 93 #136 most expensive of 188 cities in this dataset 100 = U.S. average · Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
Crime index 2109 #114 safest of 188 cities in this dataset Per 100k residents · Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer
Median home value $256,772 #131 priciest of 188 cities in this dataset Source: zillow_real
Median household income $63,880 #144 highest of 188 cities in this dataset Source: Census Bureau ACS 5-year

Combining these four figures gives a fuller picture than salary alone: Waco ranks #136 for cost of living and #131 for home prices among the 188 cities in this pilot dataset, which matters as much as the headline salary number when comparing where to live.

San Jose $54,290 Seattle $53,820 San Francisco $52,440 Mount Vernon $51,930 Olympia $50,630 Vallejo $50,500 Napa $50,320 Bellingham $49,870 Santa Cruz $49,350 Santa Maria $49,070 Santa Rosa $49,000 Bremerton $48,680 San Diego $48,170 Salinas $48,160 New York $48,130 Kennewick $47,670 Hanford $47,540 Portland $47,030 Yakima $46,890 Bend $46,670 Kiryas Joel $46,660 Wenatchee $46,650 Longview $46,610 Modesto $46,530 Los Angeles $46,490 Spokane $46,460 Walla Walla $46,420 Oxnard $46,240 Salisbury $46,120 Salem $46,010 Sacramento $45,770 San Luis Obispo $45,670 Riverside $45,640 Kingston $45,620 Redding $45,380 Ithaca $45,070 Stockton $45,050 Merced $45,000 Yuba City $44,970 Bakersfield $44,960 Vineland $44,960 Grants Pass $44,430 Naples $44,380 Eugene $44,060 Albany $43,760 Medford $43,660 Syracuse $43,410 Trenton $43,300 Buffalo $43,220 Visalia $43,040 Fresno $42,890 Chico $42,850 Utica $42,420 Corvallis $42,130 Binghamton $42,010 Atlantic City $41,940 Albany $41,910 Glens Falls $41,810 El Centro $41,800 Lexington Park $41,710 Ann Arbor $41,680 Baltimore $41,670 Dover $41,290 Watertown $41,040 Rochester $41,000 Chicago $40,800 Virginia Beach $40,740 Champaign $40,400 Orlando $40,190 Elmira $40,110 Philadelphia $39,980 Traverse City $39,950 Crestview $39,250 Bloomington $39,170 Battle Creek $39,040 Allentown $39,020 Sebastian $38,900 Miami $38,780 Paducah $38,610 Louisville $38,550 Grand Rapids $38,540 Charlottesville $38,530 Lafayette $38,450 Jackson $38,380 Sarasota $38,340 Harrisonburg $38,190 Richmond $37,980 Decatur $37,970 Lakeland $37,970 Lexington $37,830 Lancaster $37,820 Dallas $37,710 Punta Gorda $37,690 Detroit $37,640 South Bend $37,520 Lebanon $37,500 Midland $37,500 Jacksonville $37,450 Wildwood $37,430 Port St. Lucie $37,400 Kankakee $37,300 Bloomington $37,240 Sebring $37,220 Gainesville $37,210 State College $37,130 Austin $37,120 York $37,120 Tampa $37,100 Reading $37,040 Fort Myers $36,950 Lansing $36,920 Peoria $36,910 Winchester $36,860 Palm Bay $36,840 Blacksburg $36,810 Roanoke $36,780 Harrisburg $36,740 Indianapolis $36,670 Deltona $36,610 Fort Wayne $36,600 Pittsburgh $36,470 Panama City $36,420 Springfield $36,400 Hagerstown $36,370 Niles $36,350 Erie $36,300 Midland $36,240 Elkhart $36,210 Kalamazoo $36,150 Saginaw $36,100 Muskegon $35,950 Pensacola $35,850 Staunton $35,820 Rockford $35,790 Gettysburg $35,510 Houston $35,500 Lynchburg $35,480 Monroe $35,450 Michigan City $35,410 Homosassa Springs $35,380 Kokomo $35,340 San Antonio $35,290 Scranton $35,220 Williamsport $35,120 Columbus $34,930 Tallahassee $34,840 Bay City $34,800 Killeen $34,770 Evansville $34,480 Flint $34,340 Altoona $34,320 Waco $34,210 Sherman $34,160 Muncie $34,150 Chambersburg $34,100 Ocala $34,070 College Station $34,010 San Angelo $33,960 Terre Haute $33,610 Odessa $33,560 Wichita Falls $33,560 Morgantown $33,310 Amarillo $32,800 Brownsville $32,710 Weirton $32,460 Bowling Green $32,360 Johnstown $32,240 Wheeling $32,130 Elizabethtown $32,120 Tyler $32,000 Corpus Christi $31,650 Abilene $31,560 Beckley $31,360 Beaumont $31,350 Owensboro $31,320 Huntington $31,310 Lubbock $31,050 Charleston $30,720 Longview $30,640 Victoria $30,200 Parkersburg $30,040 McAllen $29,630 El Paso $29,090 Eagle Pass $28,590 Laredo $28,360 Texarkana $28,000
CityMean salaryvs. Waco
Abilene, Texas$31,560-7.7%
Albany, Oregon$41,910+22.5%
Albany, New York$43,760+27.9%
Allentown, Pennsylvania$39,020+14.1%
Altoona, Pennsylvania$34,320+0.3%
Amarillo, Texas$32,800-4.1%
Ann Arbor, Michigan$41,680+21.8%
Atlantic City, New Jersey$41,940+22.6%
Austin, Texas$37,120+8.5%
Bakersfield, California$44,960+31.4%
Baltimore, Maryland$41,670+21.8%
Battle Creek, Michigan$39,040+14.1%
Bay City, Michigan$34,800+1.7%
Beaumont, Texas$31,350-8.4%
Beckley, West Virginia$31,360-8.3%
Bellingham, Washington$49,870+45.8%
Bend, Oregon$46,670+36.4%
Binghamton, New York$42,010+22.8%
Blacksburg, Virginia$36,810+7.6%
Bloomington, Illinois$39,170+14.5%
Bloomington, Indiana$37,240+8.9%
Bowling Green, Kentucky$32,360-5.4%
Bremerton, Washington$48,680+42.3%
Brownsville, Texas$32,710-4.4%
Buffalo, New York$43,220+26.3%
Fort Myers, Florida$36,950+8.0%
Chambersburg, Pennsylvania$34,100-0.3%
Champaign, Illinois$40,400+18.1%
Charleston, West Virginia$30,720-10.2%
Charlottesville, Virginia$38,530+12.6%
Chicago, Illinois$40,800+19.3%
Chico, California$42,850+25.3%
College Station, Texas$34,010-0.6%
Columbus, Indiana$34,930+2.1%
Corpus Christi, Texas$31,650-7.5%
Corvallis, Oregon$42,130+23.2%
Crestview, Florida$39,250+14.7%
Dallas, Texas$37,710+10.2%
Decatur, Illinois$37,970+11.0%
Deltona, Florida$36,610+7.0%
Detroit, Michigan$37,640+10.0%
Dover, Delaware$41,290+20.7%
Eagle Pass, Texas$28,590-16.4%
El Centro, California$41,800+22.2%
Elizabethtown, Kentucky$32,120-6.1%
Elkhart, Indiana$36,210+5.8%
Elmira, New York$40,110+17.2%
El Paso, Texas$29,090-15.0%
Erie, Pennsylvania$36,300+6.1%
Eugene, Oregon$44,060+28.8%
Evansville, Indiana$34,480+0.8%
Flint, Michigan$34,340+0.4%
Fort Wayne, Indiana$36,600+7.0%
Fresno, California$42,890+25.4%
Gainesville, Florida$37,210+8.8%
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania$35,510+3.8%
Glens Falls, New York$41,810+22.2%
Grand Rapids, Michigan$38,540+12.7%
Grants Pass, Oregon$44,430+29.9%
Hagerstown, Maryland$36,370+6.3%
Hanford, California$47,540+39.0%
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania$36,740+7.4%
Harrisonburg, Virginia$38,190+11.6%
Homosassa Springs, Florida$35,380+3.4%
Houston, Texas$35,500+3.8%
Huntington, West Virginia$31,310-8.5%
Indianapolis, Indiana$36,670+7.2%
Ithaca, New York$45,070+31.7%
Jackson, Michigan$38,380+12.2%
Jacksonville, Florida$37,450+9.5%
Johnstown, Pennsylvania$32,240-5.8%
Kalamazoo, Michigan$36,150+5.7%
Kankakee, Illinois$37,300+9.0%
Kennewick, Washington$47,670+39.3%
Killeen, Texas$34,770+1.6%
Kingston, New York$45,620+33.4%
Kiryas Joel, New York$46,660+36.4%
Kokomo, Indiana$35,340+3.3%
Lafayette, Indiana$38,450+12.4%
Lakeland, Florida$37,970+11.0%
Lancaster, Pennsylvania$37,820+10.6%
Lansing, Michigan$36,920+7.9%
Laredo, Texas$28,360-17.1%
Lebanon, Pennsylvania$37,500+9.6%
Lexington, Kentucky$37,830+10.6%
Lexington Park, Maryland$41,710+21.9%
Longview, Texas$30,640-10.4%
Longview, Washington$46,610+36.2%
Los Angeles, California$46,490+35.9%
Louisville, Kentucky$38,550+12.7%
Lubbock, Texas$31,050-9.2%
Lynchburg, Virginia$35,480+3.7%
McAllen, Texas$29,630-13.4%
Medford, Oregon$43,660+27.6%
Merced, California$45,000+31.5%
Miami, Florida$38,780+13.4%
Michigan City, Indiana$35,410+3.5%
Midland, Michigan$36,240+5.9%
Midland, Texas$37,500+9.6%
Modesto, California$46,530+36.0%
Monroe, Michigan$35,450+3.6%
Morgantown, West Virginia$33,310-2.6%
Mount Vernon, Washington$51,930+51.8%
Muncie, Indiana$34,150-0.2%
Muskegon, Michigan$35,950+5.1%
Napa, California$50,320+47.1%
Naples, Florida$44,380+29.7%
New York, New York$48,130+40.7%
Niles, Michigan$36,350+6.3%
Sarasota, Florida$38,340+12.1%
Ocala, Florida$34,070-0.4%
Odessa, Texas$33,560-1.9%
Olympia, Washington$50,630+48.0%
Orlando, Florida$40,190+17.5%
Owensboro, Kentucky$31,320-8.4%
Oxnard, California$46,240+35.2%
Paducah, Kentucky$38,610+12.9%
Palm Bay, Florida$36,840+7.7%
Panama City, Florida$36,420+6.5%
Parkersburg, West Virginia$30,040-12.2%
Pensacola, Florida$35,850+4.8%
Peoria, Illinois$36,910+7.9%
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania$39,980+16.9%
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania$36,470+6.6%
Portland, Oregon$47,030+37.5%
Port St. Lucie, Florida$37,400+9.3%
Punta Gorda, Florida$37,690+10.2%
Reading, Pennsylvania$37,040+8.3%
Redding, California$45,380+32.7%
Richmond, Virginia$37,980+11.0%
Riverside, California$45,640+33.4%
Roanoke, Virginia$36,780+7.5%
Rochester, New York$41,000+19.8%
Rockford, Illinois$35,790+4.6%
Sacramento, California$45,770+33.8%
Saginaw, Michigan$36,100+5.5%
Salem, Oregon$46,010+34.5%
Salinas, California$48,160+40.8%
Salisbury, Maryland$46,120+34.8%
San Angelo, Texas$33,960-0.7%
San Antonio, Texas$35,290+3.2%
San Diego, California$48,170+40.8%
San Francisco, California$52,440+53.3%
San Jose, California$54,290+58.7%
San Luis Obispo, California$45,670+33.5%
Santa Cruz, California$49,350+44.3%
Santa Maria, California$49,070+43.4%
Santa Rosa, California$49,000+43.2%
Scranton, Pennsylvania$35,220+3.0%
Seattle, Washington$53,820+57.3%
Sebastian, Florida$38,900+13.7%
Sebring, Florida$37,220+8.8%
Sherman, Texas$34,160-0.1%
South Bend, Indiana$37,520+9.7%
Spokane, Washington$46,460+35.8%
Springfield, Illinois$36,400+6.4%
State College, Pennsylvania$37,130+8.5%
Staunton, Virginia$35,820+4.7%
Stockton, California$45,050+31.7%
Syracuse, New York$43,410+26.9%
Tallahassee, Florida$34,840+1.8%
Tampa, Florida$37,100+8.4%
Terre Haute, Indiana$33,610-1.8%
Texarkana, Texas$28,000-18.2%
Traverse City, Michigan$39,950+16.8%
Trenton, New Jersey$43,300+26.6%
Tyler, Texas$32,000-6.5%
Utica, New York$42,420+24.0%
Vallejo, California$50,500+47.6%
Victoria, Texas$30,200-11.7%
Vineland, New Jersey$44,960+31.4%
Virginia Beach, Virginia$40,740+19.1%
Visalia, California$43,040+25.8%
Walla Walla, Washington$46,420+35.7%
Watertown, New York$41,040+20.0%
Weirton, West Virginia$32,460-5.1%
Wenatchee, Washington$46,650+36.4%
Wheeling, West Virginia$32,130-6.1%
Wichita Falls, Texas$33,560-1.9%
Wildwood, Florida$37,430+9.4%
Williamsport, Pennsylvania$35,120+2.7%
Winchester, Virginia$36,860+7.7%
Yakima, Washington$46,890+37.1%
York, Pennsylvania$37,120+8.5%
Yuba City, California$44,970+31.5%
Gross salary
34,210/yr
Estimated take-home
29,668/yr
Est. total withheld
13.3%

Single filer, federal income tax + FICA only, 2025 rates — Texas has no state income tax on wages. Does not include state-specific payroll withholdings beyond income tax (see Data transparency). Not tax advice — verify with a professional for your specific situation.

View cost of living in this state All Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salaries in Texas → All Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salaries →
Data transparency

Sources used for this page

Official occupation and area metadata behind the visible salary, cost, housing and safety signals.

Occupation 35-2012 SOC code
Official area Waco, TX BLS metro/geographic area
Area code 47380 Stable geographic key
Reference year 2025 BLS OEWS
Cost: bea_realHousing: zillow_realCrime: latest availableNet-pay source: tx_constitucion_verificado 2025
No additional caveats are attached to this row.
Methodology

How this page is built

The salary figure is the mean annual wage reported by the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program for this occupation and metro area. Percentile and national-average comparisons are calculated directly from the 188 cities currently in this dataset, not from a fixed external benchmark. Cost of living, crime and housing figures come from BEA, FBI and Zillow respectively — see "Data transparency" above for the exact sources and reference years used on this specific page.

Confidence: the RSE (relative standard error) shown under Overview indicates how reliable the salary estimate is for this metro — a lower RSE means a larger underlying sample.

On this page

Where this is

AK HI

Highlighted: Texas

Population (metro area)
299,217