How much does a chef and head cook make in Los Angeles?
$69,990a year
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area. That is $33.65 an hour or $5,833 a month.
- Hourly
- $33.65
- Vs. national median
- +12%
- Rank among cities
- 35 of 340
- Jobs in the area
- 11,430
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $37,310Median: $69,990Highest 10%: $102,800
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,310 | $17.94 | |
| 25th | $48,310 | $23.23 | |
| Median | $69,990 | $33.65 | |
| 75th | $80,850 | $38.87 | |
| 90th | $102,800 | $49.40 |
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 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Los Angeles
Same field, median yearly pay.
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $46,970 |
| Cook | $45,400 |
| Cook | $44,460 |
| Cook | $43,680 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $42,110 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $39,770 |
| Cook | $38,850 |
| Food Server | $38,350 |
| Cook | $38,000 |
| Dishwasher | $37,580 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chef and head cook make an hour in Los Angeles?
The median hourly pay in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $33.65 ($69,990 a year).
Do chef and head cooks make more in Los Angeles than the national average?
Yes: $69,990 against $62,470 nationally, 12% more.
How does Los Angeles compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $64,500, so Los Angeles pays 9% more.
Where does Los Angeles rank for chef and head cook pay?
35 of 340 metro areas with data.
How much does a chef and head cook make starting out in Los Angeles?
The lowest-paid 10% make $37,310 or less a year; the top 10% make $102,800 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.