California Median
$44,880
per year
Hourly Rate
$21.58
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+20% vs US median
US median $37,390
State Rank
#7 of 51
152,250 employed here
How much does a Cook, Restaurant make in California?
A Cook, Restaurant working in California earns a median salary of $44,880 per year, or about $21.58 per hour. That is 20% above the national median of $37,390 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $37,100 while the top 10% make $55,580 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $38,590 and $47,330 a year.
Cook, Restaurant salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,100 | $17.84 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $38,590 | $18.55 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $44,880 | $21.58 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $47,330 | $22.75 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $55,580 | $26.72 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 7th out of 51 states and territories for Cook, Restaurant pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Cook, Restaurant salary in other states
Washington $46,800District of Columbia $46,130Massachusetts $45,600Hawaii $45,420Vermont $45,390Maine $45,290New York $43,680Oregon $43,100Colorado $41,600New Hampshire $40,200Alaska $40,140Connecticut $39,480Arizona $38,670Nevada $38,610Minnesota $38,590New Jersey $38,460Montana $38,060Delaware $37,840Maryland $37,820Illinois $37,580Nebraska $37,030Florida $37,020Michigan $36,980Missouri $36,940Wyoming $36,830Virginia $36,750Pennsylvania $36,580Wisconsin $36,550Rhode Island $36,510Utah $36,490North Dakota $36,470Idaho $36,440Tennessee $36,420South Dakota $36,220Georgia $35,940South Carolina $35,740Iowa $35,670Ohio $35,540North Carolina $35,400Indiana $35,170Kansas $35,130New Mexico $35,020Texas $34,760Kentucky $34,640Alabama $32,180Oklahoma $31,720Arkansas $30,180West Virginia $29,590Mississippi $29,560Louisiana $29,050
Working as a Cook, Restaurant in California
Nationally, about 1,410,000 people work as Cooks, Restaurant in the United States. No college degree is required — most training happens on the job.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($44,880) 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 does a Cook, Restaurant make in California?
The median Cook, Restaurant salary in California is $44,880 per year, or about $21.58 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $37,100 at the entry level to $55,580 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Cooks, Restaurant about 20% more than the national median of $37,390. California ranks 7th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Cooks, Restaurant?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $44,880 a year. About 152,250 Cooks, Restaurant 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 Cook, Restaurant 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.