Salary distribution
Where Texas chefs and head cooks fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $36,150 and $63,000, with a median of $51,050.
Chefs and Head Cooks in Texas: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 11 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $61,901. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 1 | $35,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 5 | $60,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 5 | $72,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Chefs and Head Cooks in Texas. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| CR NORTH FREEWAY MANAGEMENT LLC | Head Chef | 4 | $72,000 |
| PREMIER ELDORADO INC | EXECUTIVE CHEF | 2 | $60,000 |
| Desi District LLC | CHEF COMMIS 1 | 2 | $47,500 |
| TAHRA Spices LLC | Lead Chef | 1 | $61,901 |
| PROSPER DESI DISTRICT LLC | EXECUTIVE CHEF | 1 | $60,000 |
| APT Holdings LLC | Associate Executive Chef | 1 | $70,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Lead Chef at TAHRA Spices LLC$61,901FriscoWage Level IIIDecided Sep 11, 2025I-200-25247-287674
- Head Chef at CR NORTH FREEWAY MANAGEMENT LLC$72,000KatyWage Level IVDecided Jul 22, 2025I-202-25196-174579
- EXECUTIVE CHEF at PROSPER DESI DISTRICT LLC$60,000FRISCOWage Level IIIDecided Jul 7, 2025I-200-25178-136899
- EXECUTIVE CHEF at PREMIER ELDORADO INC$60,000FRISCOWage Level IIIDecided Jun 23, 2025I-200-25164-090716
- EXECUTIVE CHEF at PREMIER ELDORADO INC$60,000FRISCOWage Level IIIDecided Jun 23, 2025I-200-25164-090693
- Associate Executive Chef at APT Holdings LLC$70,000IrvingWage Level IVDecided Jun 6, 2025I-200-25152-038800
- CHEF COMMIS 1 at Desi District LLC$35,000IRVINGWage Level IDecided Jun 6, 2025I-200-25150-034056
- CHEF COMMIS 1 at Desi District LLC$60,000IRVINGWage Level IIIDecided Jun 6, 2025I-200-25150-034092
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay by experience level in Texas
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Chefs and Head Cooks specialties in Texas
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 9 certified offers. The most common variant is Head Chef at a median of $72,000.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Head Chef | CR NORTH FREEWAY MANAGEMENT LLC | 5 | $72,000 |
| EXECUTIVE CHEF | PREMIER ELDORADO INC | 4 | $60,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Texas over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
High school diploma
Experience
5 years or more
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.7 / 5
Food Production
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Production and Processing
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Administration and Management
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Coordination
Technical
- 4.0 / 5
Oral Expression
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Problem Sensitivity
Ability
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Monitor sanitation practices to ensure that employees follow standards and regulations.
- 02
Check the quality of raw or cooked food products to ensure that standards are met.
- 03
Determine production schedules and staff requirements necessary to ensure timely delivery of services.
- 04
Check the quantity and quality of received products.
- 05
Supervise or coordinate activities of cooks or workers engaged in food preparation.
- 06
Analyze recipes to assign prices to menu items, based on food, labor, and overhead costs.
- 07
Determine how food should be presented and create decorative food displays.
- 08
Instruct cooks or other workers in the preparation, cooking, garnishing, or presentation of food.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+7.1%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Growing faster than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Explore coursesTop metros in Texas
Metro-level salary data for chefs and head cooks in major Texas metropolitan areas.
- Austin$55,900
- Dallas$55,790
- Houston$54,160
- San Antonio$49,370
Compare Chefs and Head Cooks pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Chefs and Head Cooks in Texas?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Texas is $51,050.
- How does Texas compare to the national median for Chefs and Head Cooks?
- The Texas median is -15.8% versus the BLS national figure of $60,610.
- What is the salary range for Chefs and Head Cooks in Texas?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $30,030 and the 90th-percentile at $86,210, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Chefs and Head Cooks a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 7.1% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Chefs and Head Cooks?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as High school diploma. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.