Cooks, All Other Salary in California
Cooks, All Others in California make a median of $39,430 a year, or about $18.96 an hour. The range runs from $34K at the entry level to $50K for experienced workers.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $39K get you in California?
About cooks, all others
Sponsored links — AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level cooks, all others (10th percentile) start around $34K. Mid-career wages sit at $39K. Top earners bring in $50K or more, a $16K spread from bottom to top.
Cooks, All Other salary by metro in California
11 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $44K | +11% | N/A |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $43K | +10% | 40 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $42K | +6% | 940 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $41K | +4% | 50 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $39K | -2% | N/A |
| Salinas | $38K | -3% | N/A |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $38K | -4% | 120 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $37K | -6% | 310 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $37K | -7% | 1,640 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $35K | -11% | 70 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $34K | -13% | N/A |
Showing 1–10 of 11 metros
Compare to other states
Track cooks, all other salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
Related careers in Food Service
Frequently asked questions
How much do cooks, all others make in California?
The median is $39,430 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,080, and experienced cooks, all others can clear $50,480. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $39K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,747/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 90% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a cooks, all other salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median cooks, all other salary is worth about $37,149 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do cooks, all others get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.