How much does a cook make in Los Angeles?
$38,850a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area. That is $18.68 an hour or $3,238 a month.
- Hourly
- $18.68
- Vs. national median
- +3%
- Rank among cities
- 28 of 63
- Jobs in the area
- 1,040
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $36,890Median: $38,850Highest 10%: $50,680
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,890 | $17.74 | |
| 25th | $37,450 | $18.00 | |
| Median | $38,850 | $18.68 | |
| 75th | $46,770 | $22.49 | |
| 90th | $50,680 | $24.37 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Santa Rosa, CA | $47,840 |
| San Jose, CA | $44,740 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $43,680 |
| San Francisco, CA | $42,860 |
| Salinas, CA | $39,640 |
| Sacramento, CA | $38,980 |
| San Diego, CA | $38,870 |
| Riverside, CA | $37,040 |
Related jobs in Los Angeles
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $69,990 |
| 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 |
| Food Server | $38,350 |
| Cook | $38,000 |
| Dishwasher | $37,580 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in Los Angeles?
The median hourly pay in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $18.68 ($38,850 a year).
Do cooks make more in Los Angeles than the national average?
Yes: $38,850 against $37,690 nationally, 3% more.
How does Los Angeles compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $42,860, so Los Angeles pays 9% less.
Where does Los Angeles rank for cook pay?
28 of 63 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Los Angeles?
The lowest-paid 10% make $36,890 or less a year; the top 10% make $50,680 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.