Cooks, All Other salary in Salinas, CA
Cooks, All Other in the Salinas, CA metro area earn a median of $39,640 a year ($19.06 an hour), based on BLS data for 70 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,890 for the lowest-paid 10% to $54,910 for the top 10%. That is 5% higher than the national median of $37,690. Pay here is 8% lower than the California statewide median of $42,860. There are 0.37 cooks, all other per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 3.0× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $42,800, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, all other in Salinas, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,890 | $17.74 |
| 25th percentile | $38,640 | $18.58 |
| Median | $39,640 | $19.06 |
| 75th percentile | $46,030 | $22.13 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $54,910 | $26.40 |
| Average (mean) | $42,800 | $20.58 |
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 | $3,303.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,651.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,524.62 |
| Weekly | $762.31 |
| Hourly | $19.06 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, All Other salary in other metro areas nearby
| 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 |
| 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 |
See Cooks, All Other pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Salinas, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $44,930 | $21.60 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $38,480 | $18.50 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $43,120 | $20.73 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $46,820 | $22.51 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $40,550 | $19.49 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $43,260 | $20.80 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $35,540 | $17.09 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $48,220 | $23.18 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $35,600 | $17.11 |
| Dishwasher | $37,350 | $17.96 |
| Bartender | $36,350 | $17.48 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $36,380 | $17.49 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $38,660 | $18.59 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $72,440 | $34.83 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Salinas, CA
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 Salinas, CA?
The median salary for cooks, all other in the Salinas, CA metro area is $39,640 a year, or $19.06 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,890 for the lowest-paid 10% to $54,910 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, all other make in Salinas, CA?
The top 10% of cooks, all other in the Salinas, CA metro area earn at least $54,910 a year. The top 25% earn $46,030 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, all other in Salinas, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,890 a year, and a quarter of cooks, all other earn $38,640 or less.
How many cooks, all other work in Salinas, CA?
About 70 cooks, all other are employed in the Salinas, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.