Cooks, Fast Food salary in El Paso, TX
Cooks, Fast Food in the El Paso, TX metro area earn a median of $24,390 a year ($11.73 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,140 workers.
Pay ranges from $18,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,820 for the top 10%. That is 21% lower than the national median of $30,890. Pay here is 14% lower than the Texas statewide median of $28,280. There are 3.4 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $26,160, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in El Paso, TX
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $18,180 | $8.74 |
| 25th percentile | $20,070 | $9.65 |
| Median | $24,390 | $11.73 |
| 75th percentile | $31,870 | $15.32 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,820 | $17.70 |
| Average (mean) | $26,160 | $12.58 |
Half of cooks, fast food 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 | $2,032.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,016.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $938.08 |
| Weekly | $469.04 |
| Hourly | $11.73 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $38,560 | 4,540 |
| Midland, TX | $31,240 | 300 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $30,110 | 4,470 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $30,010 | 6,490 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $29,230 | 590 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | $29,020 | 510 |
| Longview, TX | $28,990 | 540 |
| Odessa, TX | $27,520 | 210 |
| Waco, TX | $27,470 | 500 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $26,740 | 1,040 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | $26,660 | 190 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $26,610 | 420 |
| Amarillo, TX | $26,100 | 440 |
| Abilene, TX | $25,780 | 280 |
| Lubbock, TX | $25,500 | 590 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $25,050 | 490 |
| San Angelo, TX | $24,960 | n/a |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $24,500 | 230 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $23,090 | 7,950 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, fast food
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $48,120 |
| District of Columbia | $44,670 |
| California | $42,050 |
| Washington | $39,120 |
| New Hampshire | $38,590 |
| Vermont | $38,230 |
| Oregon | $37,880 |
| Massachusetts | $37,870 |
| Colorado | $36,900 |
| Maine | $36,350 |
See Cooks, Fast Food pay in every state or the Texas statewide figures.
Related jobs in El Paso, TX
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $28,990 | $13.94 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $25,810 | $12.41 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $28,110 | $13.52 |
| Cooks, All Other | $27,460 | $13.20 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $21,610 | $10.39 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $23,030 | $11.07 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $21,870 | $10.52 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $30,520 | $14.67 |
| Bartender | $19,680 | $9.46 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $19,620 | $9.44 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $23,300 | $11.20 |
| Dishwasher | $26,850 | $12.91 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $29,680 | $14.27 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $43,020 | $20.69 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in El Paso, TX
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2011. 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 cooks, fast food make in El Paso, TX?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in the El Paso, TX metro area is $24,390 a year, or $11.73 an hour. Pay ranges from $18,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,820 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in El Paso, TX?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in the El Paso, TX metro area earn at least $36,820 a year. The top 25% earn $31,870 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in El Paso, TX?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $18,180 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $20,070 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in El Paso, TX?
About 1,140 cooks, fast food are employed in the El Paso, TX metro area, not counting the self-employed.