Cooks Restaurant Pay Range in California
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$37,100
- 25th Percentile — Junior$38,590
- 50th Percentile — Median$44,880
- 75th Percentile — Senior$47,330
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$55,580
Half of Cooks Restaurant in California earn more than $44,880. The top 10% make $55,580 or more, while entry-level workers start around $37,100.
Cooks Restaurant in California: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- California ranks 6th of 51 states for Cooks Restaurant pay, at $45,020 per year (16.2% above the U.S. average of $38,730).
- 152,250 people work as Cooks Restaurant in California — 10.8% of all U.S. Cooks Restaurant jobs.
- Location quotient 0.92: Cooks Restaurant jobs are less concentrated in California than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $37,100; the top 10% earn over $55,580.
- Hourly equivalent: $21.64 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Washington at $47,200.
- Among hospitality jobs in California, Chefs and Head Cooks pays the most ($69,130).
Cooks Restaurant Job Market in California
Key factors affecting compensation
California's key industries are Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture, and its job market is rated very strong. Cooks Restaurant here earn $45,020 on average, placing the state 6th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.42 (U.S. = 1.00), a California salary of $45,020 is roughly equivalent to $31,704 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Hawaii ($47,080), District of Columbia ($45,570), Massachusetts ($45,450) are the closest alternatives for Cooks Restaurant weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Hospitality Jobs in California
Related career salary benchmarks
- Chefs and Head Cooks $69,130/yr California +53.6% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation $52,810/yr California +17.3% vs this role
- Cooks Institution and Cafeteria $47,900/yr California +6.4% vs this role
- Bartenders $44,780/yr California 0.5% vs this role
- Waiters and Waitresses $44,600/yr California 0.9% vs this role
- Fast Food and Counter Workers $41,680/yr California 7.4% vs this role
- Cooks Fast Food $41,490/yr California 7.8% vs this role
- Dining Room Attendants and Bartender Helpers $40,660/yr California 9.7% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Cooks Restaurant salary in California?
The average Cooks Restaurant salary in California is $45,020 per year (median $44,880), which is 16.2% above the national average of $38,730.
How does California rank for Cooks Restaurant pay?
California ranks 6th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is Washington ($47,200/yr).
How much do entry-level Cooks Restaurant make in California?
The lowest-paid 10% of Cooks Restaurant in California earn about $37,100 per year and the 25th percentile is $38,590.
How much do Cooks Restaurant make per hour in California?
About $21.64 per hour, based on the $45,020 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Cooks Restaurant work in California?
BLS counts 152,250 Cooks Restaurant jobs in California (OEWS May 2025).
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