Cooks, Short Order salary in California
Cooks, Short Order in California earn a median of $42,930 a year ($20.64 an hour), based on BLS data for 30,740 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,880 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,150 for the top 10%. That is 20% higher than the national median of $35,880. California ranks 5th of 49 states for cooks, short order pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 1.7 cooks, short order per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.9× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $42,260, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, short order in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,880 | $17.25 |
| 25th percentile | $38,250 | $18.39 |
| Median | $42,930 | $20.64 |
| 75th percentile | $45,020 | $21.64 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,150 | $22.67 |
| Average (mean) | $42,260 | $20.32 |
Half of cooks, short order 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 | $3,577.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,788.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,651.15 |
| Weekly | $825.58 |
| Hourly | $20.64 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Short Order salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $46,450 | 700 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $45,990 | 1,660 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $45,790 | 4,430 |
| Vallejo, CA | $45,360 | 240 |
| Napa, CA | $43,930 | 150 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $43,680 | 12,410 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $42,990 | n/a |
| Yuba City, CA | $42,400 | 80 |
| Salinas, CA | $40,550 | 260 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $39,300 | 60 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $39,140 | 210 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $38,490 | 330 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $38,480 | 1,800 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $38,340 | 360 |
| Fresno, CA | $38,280 | 930 |
| Modesto, CA | $38,260 | 370 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $38,020 | 320 |
| Visalia, CA | $37,940 | 280 |
| Chico, CA | $37,700 | 190 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $37,490 | 390 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $37,300 | 1,830 |
| Redding, CA | $36,730 | 100 |
| Merced, CA | $36,240 | 140 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $35,610 | 2,280 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, short order
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Arizona | $46,630 |
| Rhode Island | $46,250 |
| Massachusetts | $44,290 |
| Hawaii | $43,110 |
| California | $42,930 |
| Washington | $42,760 |
| Colorado | $42,450 |
| Connecticut | $42,450 |
| District of Columbia | $42,450 |
| New Jersey | $40,720 |
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, 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 35-2015. 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, short order make in California?
The median salary for cooks, short order in California is $42,930 a year, or $20.64 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,880 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,150 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in California?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in California earn at least $47,150 a year. The top 25% earn $45,020 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,880 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $38,250 or less.
How many cooks, short order work in California?
About 30,740 cooks, short order are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.