Cooks, Fast Food salary in California
Cooks, Fast Food in California earn a median of $42,050 a year ($20.21 an hour), based on BLS data for 124,440 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,750 for the top 10%. That is 36% higher than the national median of $30,890. California ranks 3rd of 51 states for cooks, fast food pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 6.8 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $41,490, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,750 | $17.19 |
| 25th percentile | $37,260 | $17.92 |
| Median | $42,050 | $20.21 |
| 75th percentile | $43,300 | $20.82 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,750 | $23.44 |
| Average (mean) | $41,490 | $19.95 |
Half of cooks, fast food 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 | $3,504.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,752.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,617.31 |
| Weekly | $808.65 |
| Hourly | $20.21 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $47,220 | 4,790 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $46,670 | 10,160 |
| Napa, CA | $45,300 | 370 |
| Vallejo, CA | $44,450 | 1,150 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $43,840 | 1,050 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $43,630 | 710 |
| Salinas, CA | $43,120 | 1,100 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $42,700 | 1,430 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $42,530 | 2,520 |
| Modesto, CA | $42,510 | 1,620 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $42,480 | 16,910 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $42,450 | 10,630 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $42,390 | 850 |
| Yuba City, CA | $42,320 | 390 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $42,210 | 8,020 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $41,600 | 2,260 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $41,480 | 2,450 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $41,280 | 450 |
| Merced, CA | $40,430 | 660 |
| Chico, CA | $40,340 | 580 |
| El Centro, CA | $40,230 | 330 |
| Redding, CA | $39,920 | 470 |
| Visalia, CA | $39,750 | 1,410 |
| Fresno, CA | $39,620 | 3,910 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $38,000 | 48,440 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, fast food
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $48,120 |
| District of Columbia | $44,670 |
| California | $42,050 |
| Washington | $39,120 |
| New Hampshire | $38,590 |
| Vermont | $38,230 |
| Oregon | $37,880 |
| Massachusetts | $37,870 |
| Colorado | $36,900 |
| Maine | $36,350 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $44,880 | $21.58 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $39,350 | $18.92 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $46,390 | $22.31 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $42,930 | $20.64 |
| Cooks, All Other | $42,860 | $20.61 |
| 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 35-2011. 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, fast food make in California?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in California is $42,050 a year, or $20.21 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,750 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in California?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in California earn at least $48,750 a year. The top 25% earn $43,300 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,750 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $37,260 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in California?
About 124,440 cooks, fast food are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.