How much does a cook make in Salinas?
$39,640a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Salinas, CA metro area. That is $19.06 an hour or $3,303 a month.
- Hourly
- $19.06
- Vs. national median
- +5%
- Rank among cities
- 21 of 63
- Jobs in the area
- 70
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $36,890Median: $39,640Highest 10%: $54,910
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,890 | $17.74 | |
| 25th | $38,640 | $18.58 | |
| Median | $39,640 | $19.06 | |
| 75th | $46,030 | $22.13 | |
| 90th | $54,910 | $26.40 |
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 |
| Sacramento, CA | $38,980 |
| San Diego, CA | $38,870 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $38,850 |
| Riverside, CA | $37,040 |
Related jobs in Salinas
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $72,440 |
| 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 |
| Food Server | $38,660 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $38,480 |
| Dishwasher | $37,350 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in Salinas?
The median hourly pay in the Salinas, CA metro area is $19.06 ($39,640 a year).
Do cooks make more in Salinas than the national average?
Yes: $39,640 against $37,690 nationally, 5% more.
How does Salinas compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $42,860, so Salinas pays 8% less.
Where does Salinas rank for cook pay?
21 of 63 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Salinas?
The lowest-paid 10% make $36,890 or less a year; the top 10% make $54,910 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.