The average salary for a restaurant cook in California is around $36,490 per year.
Avg Salary
Restaurant cooks earn an average yearly salary of $36,490.
Wages typically start from $30,360 and go up to $46,440.
51% below national average Updated in 2021
Restaurant cook earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level restaurant cook earnings begin at:
$22.33 per hour
$46,440 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level restaurant cook earnings begin at:
$18.62 per hour
$38,720 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level restaurant cook earnings begin at:
$17.54 per hour
$36,490 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level restaurant cook earnings begin at:
$14.92 per hour
$31,040 per year
10th percentile
Starting level restaurant cook earnings begin at:
$14.59 per hour
$30,360 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Restaurant cook salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $37,520 |
| Hawaii | $37,240 |
| Massachusetts | $37,070 |
| New York | $36,880 |
| Vermont | $36,870 |
| New Jersey | $36,830 |
| New Hampshire | $36,790 |
| District of Columbia | $36,750 |
| California | $36,490 |
| Connecticut | $36,070 |
| Maine | $35,830 |
| Colorado | $35,650 |
| Minnesota | $34,740 |
| Oregon | $32,150 |
| Wyoming | $31,010 |
| Alaska | $30,730 |
| Nebraska | $30,720 |
| Maryland | $30,470 |
| North Dakota | $30,350 |
| Illinois | $30,330 |
| Rhode Island | $30,300 |
| Arizona | $30,290 |
| Nevada | $29,940 |
| Delaware | $29,910 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | $29,700 |
| Florida | $29,680 |
| Iowa | $29,490 |
| Utah | $29,460 |
| Michigan | $29,440 |
| Wisconsin | $29,350 |
| Pennsylvania | $29,270 |
| Montana | $29,170 |
| Idaho | $29,140 |
| South Dakota | $29,080 |
| Ohio | $28,850 |
| South Carolina | $28,850 |
| Tennessee | $28,840 |
| Georgia | $28,820 |
| New Mexico | $28,780 |
| Virginia | $28,780 |
| Indiana | $28,670 |
| North Carolina | $28,660 |
| Texas | $28,420 |
| Oklahoma | $28,350 |
| Missouri | $28,250 |
| Kansas | $27,930 |
| Kentucky | $27,910 |
| Arkansas | $27,010 |
| Louisiana | $24,810 |
| Alabama | $24,360 |
| Mississippi | $23,520 |
| West Virginia | $23,340 |
| Guam | $21,270 |
| Puerto Rico | $18,000 |
How do restaurant cook salaries compare to similar careers?
Restaurant cooks earn about the same as related careers in California. On average, they make less than brewmasters but more than food preparation workers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Brewmaster salary | $48K |
| Personal chef salary | $51K |
| Dietetic technician salary | $38K |
| Butcher salary | $37K |
| Bartender salary | $31K |
| Restaurant cook salary | $36K |
| Baker salary | $36K |
| Food batchmaker salary | $35K |
| Food server salary | $30K |
| Food preparation worker salary | $32K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)