How much does a chef and head cook make in California?
$64,500a year
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks in California. That is $31.01 an hour or $5,375 a month.
- Hourly
- $31.01
- Vs. national median
- +3%
- Rank among states
- 15 of 51
- Jobs in the state
- 31,670
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $37,380Median: $64,500Highest 10%: $101,900
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,380 | $17.97 | |
| 25th | $46,320 | $22.27 | |
| Median | $64,500 | $31.01 | |
| 75th | $81,040 | $38.96 | |
| 90th | $101,900 | $48.98 |
Cities in California
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| San Jose, CA | $79,020 |
| Napa, CA | $78,960 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $73,570 |
| Salinas, CA | $72,440 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $69,990 |
| San Francisco, CA | $68,970 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $65,060 |
| Riverside, CA | $64,480 |
| Vallejo, CA | $63,230 |
| Oxnard, CA | $62,620 |
| Fresno, CA | $61,870 |
| Modesto, CA | $61,330 |
| San Diego, CA | $60,600 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $59,400 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $59,190 |
| Sacramento, CA | $57,870 |
| Visalia, CA | $57,600 |
| Merced, CA | $57,500 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $57,220 |
| Redding, CA | $56,550 |
| Chico, CA | $55,990 |
| Stockton, CA | $55,210 |
| Hanford, CA | $45,800 |
| Yuba City, CA | $44,340 |
Nearby in the ranking
States with similar pay for chef and head cooks.
| 12. Georgia | $66,230 |
| 13. Vermont | $65,440 |
| 14. Colorado | $65,400 |
| 15. California | $64,500 |
| 16. Missouri | $64,480 |
| 17. Connecticut | $64,310 |
| 18. Pennsylvania | $63,860 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chef and head cook make an hour in California?
The median hourly pay in California is $31.01 ($64,500 a year).
Do chef and head cooks make more in California than the national average?
Yes: $64,500 against $62,470 nationally, 3% more.
Where does California rank for chef and head cook pay?
California ranks 15 of 51 states.
Which city in California pays chef and head cooks the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, with a median of $79,020 a year.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.