How much does a chef and head cook make in Chico?
$55,990a year
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks in the Chico, CA metro area. That is $26.92 an hour or $4,666 a month.
- Hourly
- $26.92
- Vs. national median
- -10%
- Rank among cities
- 222 of 340
- Jobs in the area
- 110
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $35,160Median: $55,990Highest 10%: $81,590
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,160 | $16.90 | |
| 25th | $37,330 | $17.95 | |
| Median | $55,990 | $26.92 | |
| 75th | $69,100 | $33.22 | |
| 90th | $81,590 | $39.23 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks.
| 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 |
| Stockton, CA | $55,210 |
| Hanford, CA | $45,800 |
| Yuba City, CA | $44,340 |
Related jobs in Chico
Same field, median yearly pay.
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $45,900 |
| Cook | $41,380 |
| Cook | $40,340 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $38,210 |
| Cook | $37,980 |
| Cook | $37,700 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $37,510 |
| Food Server | $37,400 |
| Host and Hostess | $35,170 |
| Dishwasher | $35,150 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chef and head cook make an hour in Chico?
The median hourly pay in the Chico, CA metro area is $26.92 ($55,990 a year).
Do chef and head cooks make more in Chico than the national average?
No: $55,990 against $62,470 nationally, 10% less.
How does Chico compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $64,500, so Chico pays 13% less.
Where does Chico rank for chef and head cook pay?
222 of 340 metro areas with data.
How much does a chef and head cook make starting out in Chico?
The lowest-paid 10% make $35,160 or less a year; the top 10% make $81,590 or more.
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.