California Median
$64,500
per year
Hourly Rate
$31.01
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+3% vs US median
US median $62,470
State Rank
#15 of 51
31,670 employed here
How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make in California?
Chefs and Head Cooks in California take home a median of $64,500 annually — roughly $31.01 an hour — which runs 3% above the national median of $62,470.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $37,380 while the top 10% make $101,870 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $46,320 and $81,040 a year.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,380 | $17.97 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $46,320 | $22.27 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $64,500 | $31.01 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $81,040 | $38.96 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $101,870 | $48.98 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 15th out of 51 states and territories for Chefs and Head Cooks pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other states
Rhode Island $79,930Hawaii $77,360District of Columbia $76,420Washington $76,010North Dakota $74,740New Jersey $74,280Wyoming $73,170South Carolina $71,860New York $70,670Tennessee $69,810Massachusetts $69,540Georgia $66,230Vermont $65,440Colorado $65,400Missouri $64,480Connecticut $64,310Pennsylvania $63,860Oregon $63,600New Hampshire $63,400Virginia $63,270Minnesota $62,600Alabama $62,400Nevada $62,380New Mexico $62,250Maryland $61,590Delaware $61,440Wisconsin $61,300North Carolina $61,130West Virginia $61,100Nebraska $60,510Michigan $60,070Arizona $59,890Utah $59,060Illinois $58,830Oklahoma $58,540Kansas $58,390Florida $58,240Montana $57,470Maine $57,010Texas $56,080Mississippi $54,850Ohio $53,990Alaska $52,190Indiana $52,190Idaho $52,000South Dakota $48,470Kentucky $48,070Iowa $47,990Arkansas $46,170Louisiana $45,570
Working as Chefs and Head Cooks in California
Nationally, about 200,000 people work as Chefs and Head Cooks in the United States. No college degree is required — most training happens on the job.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($64,500) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make in California?
The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in California is $64,500 per year, or about $31.01 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $37,380 at the entry level to $101,870 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Chefs and Head Cooks about 3% more than the national median of $62,470. California ranks 15th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Chefs and Head Cooks?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $64,500 a year. About 31,670 Chefs and Head Cooks are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Chefs and Head Cooks salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.