Cooks, All Other salary in California
Cooks, All Other in California earn a median of $42,860 a year ($20.61 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,990 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $50,940 for the top 10%. That is 14% higher than the national median of $37,690. California ranks 11th of 33 states for cooks, all other pay. There are 0.22 cooks, all other per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $43,700, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, all other in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,040 | $17.81 |
| 25th percentile | $38,350 | $18.44 |
| Median | $42,860 | $20.61 |
| 75th percentile | $46,030 | $22.13 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $50,940 | $24.49 |
| Average (mean) | $43,700 | $21.01 |
Half of cooks, all other 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 | $3,571.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,785.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,648.46 |
| Weekly | $824.23 |
| Hourly | $20.61 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, All Other salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $47,840 | 180 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $44,740 | n/a |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $43,680 | 50 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $42,860 | 1,120 |
| Salinas, CA | $39,640 | 70 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $38,980 | 190 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $38,870 | 290 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $38,850 | 1,040 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $37,040 | n/a |
Highest-paying states for cooks, all other
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $69,570 |
| Washington | $52,510 |
| Nevada | $51,220 |
| New Jersey | $46,080 |
| Indiana | $44,290 |
| North Dakota | $44,190 |
| Missouri | $43,990 |
| Colorado | $43,490 |
| New York | $43,000 |
| Georgia | $42,960 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $44,880 | $21.58 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $42,050 | $20.21 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $39,350 | $18.92 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $46,390 | $22.31 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $42,930 | $20.64 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $42,280 | $20.33 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,080 | $17.35 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,980 | $22.59 |
| 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 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $64,500 | $31.01 |
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 35-2019. 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, all other make in California?
The median salary for cooks, all other in California is $42,860 a year, or $20.61 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $50,940 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, all other make in California?
The top 10% of cooks, all other in California earn at least $50,940 a year. The top 25% earn $46,030 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, all other in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,040 a year, and a quarter of cooks, all other earn $38,350 or less.
How many cooks, all other work in California?
About 3,990 cooks, all other are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.