Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in McAllen
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,150 a year or less, while the top 10% make $70,460 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in McAllen earn between $35,130 and $58,630.
- $27K10th
- $35K25th
- $39KMedian
- $59K75th
- $70K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $45,900 | $3,825 | $22.07 |
| Median | $39,140 | $3,262 | $18.82 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,130 | $2,928 | $16.89 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $58,630 | $4,886 | $28.19 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in McAllen vs. Texas and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in McAllen earn 23% less than the Texas average ($59,350) and 31% less than the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is -37% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McAllen | $45,900 | $39,140 | $27,150 | $70,460 | 230 |
| 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 McAllen
On the average salary of $45,900, a single filer in McAllen takes home about $39,061 a year, or $3,255 a month and $1,502 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 McAllen a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the McAllen area are 14% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 85.9), so the average $45,900 buys what about $53,437 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in McAllen ($35,830). A typical home costs $193,978, or 4.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Texas cities
McAllen ranks 23rd 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
- McAllen$45,900
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 McAllen: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in McAllen?
$22.07 an hour on average, and $18.82 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in McAllen?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,150 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,130, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in McAllen?
About $39,061 a year ($3,255 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $45,900. Texas has no state income tax.
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in McAllen than elsewhere?
The average here is 31% 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 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX (32580). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.4%.
- 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 0.61, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.61).
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