Chefs and Head Cooks salary in California
Chefs and Head Cooks in California earn a median of $64,500 a year ($31.01 an hour), based on BLS data for 31,670 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,380 for the lowest-paid 10% to $101,870 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $62,470. California ranks 15th of 51 states for chefs and head cooks pay. There are 1.7 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $69,130, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,380 | $17.97 |
| 25th percentile | $46,320 | $22.27 |
| Median | $64,500 | $31.01 |
| 75th percentile | $81,040 | $38.96 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $101,870 | $48.98 |
| Average (mean) | $69,130 | $33.24 |
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 | $5,375 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,687.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,480.77 |
| Weekly | $1,240.38 |
| Hourly | $31.01 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $79,020 | 1,280 |
| Napa, CA | $78,960 | 300 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $73,570 | 460 |
| Salinas, CA | $72,440 | 360 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $69,990 | 11,430 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $68,970 | 5,340 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $65,060 | 520 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $64,480 | 2,770 |
| Vallejo, CA | $63,230 | 170 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $62,620 | 480 |
| Fresno, CA | $61,870 | 490 |
| Modesto, CA | $61,330 | 170 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $60,600 | 3,890 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $59,400 | 270 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $59,190 | 200 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $57,870 | 1,630 |
| Visalia, CA | $57,600 | 160 |
| Merced, CA | $57,500 | 90 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $57,220 | 290 |
| Redding, CA | $56,550 | 70 |
| Chico, CA | $55,990 | 110 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $55,210 | 320 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $45,800 | 60 |
| Yuba City, CA | $44,340 | 70 |
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 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,980 | $22.59 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $42,280 | $20.33 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,080 | $17.35 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $44,880 | $21.58 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $42,050 | $20.21 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $39,350 | $18.92 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $36,010 | $17.31 |
| Dishwasher | $37,870 | $18.21 |
| Bartender | $36,220 | $17.41 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $36,640 | $17.62 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $39,010 | $18.75 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $46,390 | $22.31 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $42,930 | $20.64 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $36,910 | $17.75 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in California
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 California?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in California is $64,500 a year, or $31.01 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,380 for the lowest-paid 10% to $101,870 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in California?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in California earn at least $101,870 a year. The top 25% earn $81,040 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,380 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $46,320 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in California?
About 31,670 chefs and head cooks are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.