Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Corpus Christi
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,690 a year or less, while the top 10% make $78,300 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Corpus Christi earn between $35,830 and $63,180.
- $36K10th
- $36K25th
- $46KMedian
- $63K75th
- $78K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $51,320 | $4,277 | $24.67 |
| Median | $46,150 | $3,846 | $22.19 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,830 | $2,986 | $17.23 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $63,180 | $5,265 | $30.38 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Corpus Christi vs. Texas and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Corpus Christi earn 14% less than the Texas average ($59,350) and 23% less than the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is -26% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corpus Christi | $51,320 | $46,150 | $35,690 | $78,300 | 150 |
| Texas | $59,350 | $56,080 | $31,380 | $92,290 | 13,270 |
| United States | $66,700 | $62,470 | $37,900 | $98,560 | 200,040 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary after taxes in Corpus Christi
On the average salary of $51,320, a single filer in Corpus Christi takes home about $43,416 a year, or $3,618 a month and $1,670 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Corpus Christi a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Corpus Christi area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.7), so the average $51,320 buys what about $55,379 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Corpus Christi ($45,350). A typical home costs $225,070, or 4.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Texas cities
Corpus Christi ranks 15th of 23 Texas metro areas for this job; Austin pays the most ($68,120).
- Austin$68,120
- Dallas$66,880
- Midland$60,410
- Beaumont$60,090
- Lubbock$58,230
- Odessa$56,640
- College Station$56,540
- San Antonio$56,170
- Houston$54,810
- Corpus Christi$51,320
Highest-paying cities for chefs and head cooks
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,380).
- Kahului, HI$91,380
- Napa, CA$83,750
- San Jose, CA$80,150
- Albany, NY$79,500
- Providence, RI$79,440
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Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Corpus Christi: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Corpus Christi?
$24.67 an hour on average, and $22.19 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Corpus Christi?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,690 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,830, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Corpus Christi?
About $43,416 a year ($3,618 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $51,320. Texas has no state income tax.
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Corpus Christi than elsewhere?
The average here is 23% less than the U.S. average for this job ($66,700).
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 35-1011; area Corpus Christi, TX (18580). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.8%.
- 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 0.62, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.62).
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