Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Waco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,280 a year or less, while the top 10% make $43,180 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Waco earn between $28,980 and $38,580.
- $27K10th
- $29K25th
- $34KMedian
- $39K75th
- $43K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $34,210 | $2,851 | $16.45 |
| Median | $34,410 | $2,868 | $16.54 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $28,980 | $2,415 | $13.93 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $38,580 | $3,215 | $18.55 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Waco vs. Texas and the U.S.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria in Waco earn about the same as the Texas average ($34,870) and 12% less than the U.S. average ($38,810). At the median the gap is -8% against the U.S. median of $37,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waco | $34,210 | $34,410 | $27,280 | $43,180 | 280 |
| 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 Waco
On the average salary of $34,210, a single filer in Waco takes home about $29,668 a year, or $2,472 a month and $1,141 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 Waco a good place for cooks, institution and cafeteria? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Waco area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.5), so the average $34,210 buys what about $36,964 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Waco ($46,020). A typical home costs $256,772, or 7.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other Texas cities
Waco ranks 7th 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
- San Angelo$33,960
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 Waco: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Waco?
$16.45 an hour on average, and $16.54 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Waco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,280 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,980, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Waco?
About $29,668 a year ($2,472 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $34,210. Texas has no state income tax.
Do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more in Waco than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% 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 Waco, TX (47380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.9%.
- 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 0.76, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.76).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.