Cooks, Restaurant Salary in California
Cooks, Restaurant in California earn a median annual wage of $44,880 —20.0% above the national median of $37,390. That ranks CA #7 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.
Wage distribution
How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.
Employment concentration (0.92×) is close to the national average.
Highest-paying states for cooks, restaurant
All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. California is highlighted.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $46,800 | $22.50 | 35,140 | 1.09 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $46,130 | $22.18 | 7,720 | 1.21 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $45,600 | $21.92 | 29,570 | 0.90 |
| 4 | Hawaii | $45,420 | $21.84 | 11,090 | 1.95 |
| 5 | Vermont | $45,390 | $21.82 | 2,360 | 0.86 |
| 6 | Maine | $45,290 | $21.78 | 5,130 | 0.88 |
| 7 | California | $44,880 | $21.58 | 152,250 | 0.92 |
| 8 | New York | $43,680 | $21.00 | 71,530 | 0.81 |
| 9 | Oregon | $43,100 | $20.72 | 21,550 | 1.21 |
| 10 | Colorado | $41,600 | $20.00 | 30,600 | 1.17 |
Related occupations in California
Occupations in the same job family, compared within California.
| Occupation | California median | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $42,280 | $31,200 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,080 | $35,230 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,980 | $44,080 |
| Food Preparation Workers | $39,350 | $35,320 |
| Bartenders | $36,220 | $34,340 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $42,050 | $30,890 |
Frequently asked questions
How much do cooks, restaurant make in California?
The median annual wage for cooks, restaurant in California is $44,880, or $21.58 per hour. That is 20.0% above the national median of $37,390.
What is the entry-level cooks, restaurant salary in California?
Workers at the 10th percentile earn $37,100 per year ($17.84/hour). The 25th percentile is $38,590.
How many people work as cooks, restaurant in California?
About 152,250 people work in this occupation in California, or 8.4 per 1,000 jobs statewide.
Is California a good state for cooks, restaurant?
California ranks #7 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment concentration (0.92x) is close to the national average.
Which state pays cooks, restaurant the most?
Washington has the highest median wage at $46,800 per year, followed by District of Columbia ($46,130) and Massachusetts ($45,600).