California Median
$46,390
per year
Hourly Rate
$22.30
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+24% vs US median
US median $37,450
State Rank
#6 of 51
31,660 employed here
How much do Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria make in California?
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria working in California earn a median salary of $46,390 per year, or about $22.30 per hour. That is 24% above the national median of $37,450 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $37,570 while the top 10% make $59,630 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $40,240 and $52,060 a year.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,570 | $18.06 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $40,240 | $19.35 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $46,390 | $22.30 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $52,060 | $25.03 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,630 | $28.67 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 6th out of 51 states and territories for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other states
Washington $49,670Alaska $48,580Massachusetts $47,790Hawaii $47,770Rhode Island $46,570Vermont $46,370Connecticut $46,120New York $45,880District of Columbia $45,450New Hampshire $45,370New Jersey $44,520Oregon $44,520Delaware $44,080Maine $43,490Minnesota $43,460Colorado $42,500Maryland $41,380Arizona $39,660North Dakota $39,490Nevada $39,430Wisconsin $38,650Utah $38,200Virginia $37,890Illinois $37,440Montana $37,150Wyoming $36,940Michigan $36,870South Dakota $36,730Ohio $36,720Pennsylvania $36,540New Mexico $36,470Nebraska $36,390Florida $36,250North Carolina $36,140Indiana $35,980Iowa $35,810Idaho $35,600Tennessee $35,570Texas $35,360Georgia $35,090South Carolina $34,960Missouri $34,900Kansas $31,950Kentucky $31,550Arkansas $30,240West Virginia $29,740Oklahoma $29,270Mississippi $27,390Alabama $27,120Louisiana $25,490
Working as Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in California
Nationally, about 441,000 people work as Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the United States. No college degree is required — most training happens on the job.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($46,390) 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 Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria make in California?
The median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in California is $46,390 per year, or about $22.30 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $37,570 at the entry level to $59,630 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria about 24% more than the national median of $37,450. California ranks 6th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $46,390 a year. About 31,660 Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria 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 Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria 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.