How much does a chef and head cook make in Salinas?
$72,440a year
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks in the Salinas, CA metro area. That is $34.83 an hour or $6,037 a month.
- Hourly
- $34.83
- Vs. national median
- +16%
- Rank among cities
- 24 of 340
- Jobs in the area
- 360
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $40,150Median: $72,440Highest 10%: $111,700
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $40,150 | $19.30 | |
| 25th | $59,190 | $28.46 | |
| Median | $72,440 | $34.83 | |
| 75th | $91,380 | $43.93 | |
| 90th | $111,700 | $53.72 |
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 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Salinas
Same field, median yearly pay.
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $48,220 |
| Cook | $46,820 |
| Cook | $44,930 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $43,260 |
| Cook | $43,120 |
| Cook | $40,550 |
| Cook | $39,640 |
| Food Server | $38,660 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $38,480 |
| Dishwasher | $37,350 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chef and head cook make an hour in Salinas?
The median hourly pay in the Salinas, CA metro area is $34.83 ($72,440 a year).
Do chef and head cooks make more in Salinas than the national average?
Yes: $72,440 against $62,470 nationally, 16% more.
How does Salinas compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $64,500, so Salinas pays 12% more.
Where does Salinas rank for chef and head cook pay?
24 of 340 metro areas with data.
How much does a chef and head cook make starting out in Salinas?
The lowest-paid 10% make $40,150 or less a year; the top 10% make $111,700 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.