How much does a cook make in Los Angeles?
$38,000a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area. That is $18.27 an hour or $3,167 a month.
- Hourly
- $18.27
- Vs. national median
- +23%
- Rank among cities
- 36 of 308
- Jobs in the area
- 48,440
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $35,760Median: $38,000Highest 10%: $45,550
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,760 | $17.19 | |
| 25th | $37,080 | $17.83 | |
| Median | $38,000 | $18.27 | |
| 75th | $42,540 | $20.45 | |
| 90th | $45,550 | $21.90 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| San Jose, CA | $47,220 |
| San Francisco, CA | $46,670 |
| Napa, CA | $45,300 |
| Vallejo, CA | $44,450 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $43,840 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $43,630 |
| Salinas, CA | $43,120 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $42,700 |
| Oxnard, CA | $42,530 |
| Modesto, CA | $42,510 |
| Riverside, CA | $42,480 |
| San Diego, CA | $42,450 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $42,390 |
| Yuba City, CA | $42,320 |
| Sacramento, CA | $42,210 |
| Stockton, CA | $41,600 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $41,480 |
| Hanford, CA | $41,280 |
| Merced, CA | $40,430 |
| Chico, CA | $40,340 |
| El Centro, CA | $40,230 |
| Redding, CA | $39,920 |
| Visalia, CA | $39,750 |
| Fresno, CA | $39,620 |
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 |
| Cook | $38,850 |
| Food Server | $38,350 |
| 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 $18.27 ($38,000 a year).
Do cooks make more in Los Angeles than the national average?
Yes: $38,000 against $30,890 nationally, 23% more.
How does Los Angeles compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $42,050, so Los Angeles pays 10% less.
Where does Los Angeles rank for cook pay?
36 of 308 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Los Angeles?
The lowest-paid 10% make $35,760 or less a year; the top 10% make $45,550 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.