Cooks, Restaurant Salary in El Centro, CA
Cooks, Restaurants in El Centro, CA make a median of $38,230 a year, or about $18.38 an hour. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $46K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 95.17), that's roughly $40,170 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,362/month — about 51.6% of take-home, which is tight.
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $38K get you in El Centro?
About cooks, restaurants
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, El Centro, CA
Entry-level cooks, restaurants (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $38K.Top earners bring in $46K or more - a $11K spread from bottom to top.
Cooks, Restaurant pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $46K | +26% | 31,640 |
| District of Columbia | $45K | +23% | 8,020 |
| Washington | $45K | +22% | 34,790 |
| Maine | $45K | +22% | 4,920 |
| Hawaii | $45K | +21% | 12,190 |
| Vermont | $45K | +21% | 2,710 |
| California | $44K | +20% | 160,270 |
| New York | $40K | +8% | 62,430 |
| New Hampshire | $39K | +6% | 6,980 |
| Rhode Island | $39K | +6% | 6,490 |
| Alaska | $39K | +5% | 2,480 |
| Minnesota | $38K | +4% | 26,900 |
| New Jersey | $38K | +3% | 30,720 |
| Oregon | $38K | +3% | 18,970 |
| Connecticut | $38K | +3% | 13,940 |
Track cooks, restaurant salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when El Centro numbers change.
Related careers in Food Service
Frequently asked questions
How much do cooks, restaurants make in El Centro, CA?
The median is $38,230 a year - that works out to about $18.38 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,100, and experienced cooks, restaurants can clear $46,400. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $38K enough to live in El Centro?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,671/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,362/month (HUD Fair Market Rent), which eats 51% 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, restaurant salary go in El Centro?
El Centro has a Regional Price Parity of 95.17 (100 is the national average). That's below average - your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median cooks, restaurant salary is worth about $40,170 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do cooks, restaurants 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.