Chefs and Head Cooks salary in San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX
Chefs and Head Cooks in the San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX metro area earn a median of $48,900 a year ($23.51 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,260 workers.
Pay ranges from $21,430 for the lowest-paid 10% to $95,260 for the top 10%. That is 22% lower than the national median of $62,470. Pay here is 13% lower than the Texas statewide median of $56,080. There are 1.1 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $56,170, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,430 | $10.30 |
| 25th percentile | $37,640 | $18.10 |
| Median | $48,900 | $23.51 |
| 75th percentile | $66,000 | $31.73 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $95,260 | $45.80 |
| Average (mean) | $56,170 | $27.01 |
Half of chefs and head cooks earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,075 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,037.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,880.77 |
| Weekly | $940.38 |
| Hourly | $23.51 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $48,900 salary, see how much house you can afford in Texas at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $64,100 | 3,550 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $62,400 | 1,710 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $58,440 | 120 |
| Midland, TX | $58,100 | 100 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $57,920 | 170 |
| Lubbock, TX | $56,950 | 100 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | $53,000 | 110 |
| Tyler, TX | $52,050 | 90 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $50,270 | 50 |
| San Angelo, TX | $50,190 | 50 |
| Odessa, TX | $49,820 | 70 |
| Laredo, TX | $49,670 | 60 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $47,850 | 120 |
| Abilene, TX | $47,840 | 60 |
| Longview, TX | $46,870 | 90 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $46,150 | 150 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $45,400 | 3,610 |
| Amarillo, TX | $45,370 | 80 |
| El Paso, TX | $43,020 | 320 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | $43,020 | 40 |
| Waco, TX | $42,660 | 110 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $39,140 | 230 |
Highest-paying states for chefs and head cooks
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $79,930 |
| Hawaii | $77,360 |
| District of Columbia | $76,420 |
| Washington | $76,010 |
| North Dakota | $74,740 |
| New Jersey | $74,280 |
| Wyoming | $73,170 |
| South Carolina | $71,860 |
| New York | $70,670 |
| Tennessee | $69,810 |
See Chefs and Head Cooks pay in every state or the Texas statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $36,850 | $17.72 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,810 | $13.37 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $28,110 | $13.51 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $34,860 | $16.76 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,390 | $16.54 |
| Bartender | $21,980 | $10.57 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $23,510 | $11.31 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $30,110 | $14.48 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,640 | $13.29 |
| Dishwasher | $29,850 | $14.35 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,250 | $16.95 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $28,740 | $13.82 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $30,280 | $14.56 |
| Cooks, All Other | $33,000 | $15.87 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chefs and head cooks make in San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in the San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX metro area is $48,900 a year, or $23.51 an hour. Pay ranges from $21,430 for the lowest-paid 10% to $95,260 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in the San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX metro area earn at least $95,260 a year. The top 25% earn $66,000 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $21,430 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $37,640 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX?
About 1,260 chefs and head cooks are employed in the San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX metro area, not counting the self-employed.