Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in California
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in California earn a median of $46,390 a year ($22.31 an hour), based on BLS data for 31,660 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,570 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,630 for the top 10%. That is 24% higher than the national median of $37,450. California ranks 6th of 51 states for cooks, institution and cafeteria pay. There are 1.7 cooks, institution and cafeteria per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.61). The average (mean) salary is $47,900, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, institution and cafeteria in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,570 | $18.06 |
| 25th percentile | $40,240 | $19.35 |
| Median | $46,390 | $22.31 |
| 75th percentile | $52,060 | $25.03 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,630 | $28.67 |
| Average (mean) | $47,900 | $23.03 |
Half of cooks, institution and cafeteria 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 | $3,865.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,932.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,784.23 |
| Weekly | $892.12 |
| Hourly | $22.31 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $51,880 | 2,640 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $49,140 | 4,280 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $48,210 | 430 |
| Napa, CA | $48,060 | 130 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $47,310 | 80 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $47,260 | 420 |
| Vallejo, CA | $47,130 | 270 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $47,100 | 3,070 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $46,850 | 250 |
| Salinas, CA | $46,820 | 350 |
| Modesto, CA | $45,480 | 330 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $45,400 | 9,860 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $45,020 | 1,780 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $44,970 | 340 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $44,570 | 610 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $44,470 | 2,540 |
| Merced, CA | $44,410 | 190 |
| Redding, CA | $44,250 | 200 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $43,950 | 400 |
| Yuba City, CA | $43,940 | 120 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $43,910 | 510 |
| Fresno, CA | $42,580 | 900 |
| Visalia, CA | $41,820 | 280 |
| Chico, CA | $41,380 | 140 |
| El Centro, CA | $40,980 | 70 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, institution and cafeteria
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $49,670 |
| Alaska | $48,580 |
| Massachusetts | $47,790 |
| Hawaii | $47,770 |
| Rhode Island | $46,570 |
| California | $46,390 |
| Vermont | $46,370 |
| Connecticut | $46,120 |
| New York | $45,880 |
| District of Columbia | $45,450 |
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, 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 35-2012. 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, institution and cafeteria make in California?
The median salary for cooks, institution and cafeteria in California is $46,390 a year, or $22.31 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,570 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,630 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, institution and cafeteria make in California?
The top 10% of cooks, institution and cafeteria in California earn at least $59,630 a year. The top 25% earn $52,060 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, institution and cafeteria in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,570 a year, and a quarter of cooks, institution and cafeteria earn $40,240 or less.
How many cooks, institution and cafeteria work in California?
About 31,660 cooks, institution and cafeteria are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.