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Cooks, Restaurant average salary by city in California
- San Jose$49,390
- San Francisco$48,630
- Napa$47,830
- Santa Rosa$46,470
- San Diego$45,770
- Salinas$45,310
- Los Angeles$44,750
- Vallejo$44,200
- Santa Cruz$44,090
- Santa Maria$43,580
- Sacramento$43,220
- San Luis Obispo$43,020
- Riverside$42,750
- Oxnard$42,550
- Stockton$42,430
- Modesto$42,220
- Yuba City$41,620
- Merced$40,920
- Fresno$40,460
- Redding$40,390
- Hanford$40,190
- Chico$40,100
- Bakersfield$40,050
- El Centro$39,760
- Visalia$39,610
Pay, take-home pay and cost of living
| City | Average | Median | 25th pct. | Take-home* | Cost of living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose | $49,390 | $47,170 | $43,970 | $40,709 | 110 |
| San Francisco | $48,630 | $46,030 | $44,340 | $40,144 | 116 |
| Napa | $47,830 | $47,320 | $44,030 | $39,549 | 113 |
| Santa Rosa | $46,470 | $45,720 | $40,480 | $38,524 | 108 |
| San Diego | $45,770 | $46,440 | $40,330 | $37,990 | 112 |
| Salinas | $45,310 | $44,930 | $38,240 | $37,638 | 109 |
| Los Angeles | $44,750 | $44,460 | $38,290 | $37,211 | 114 |
| Vallejo | $44,200 | $44,100 | $39,110 | $36,791 | 108 |
| Santa Cruz | $44,090 | $44,560 | $38,360 | $36,707 | 110 |
| Santa Maria | $43,580 | $43,340 | $37,680 | $36,318 | 109 |
| Sacramento | $43,220 | $44,230 | $38,040 | $36,043 | 107 |
| San Luis Obispo | $43,020 | $43,220 | $37,850 | $35,890 | 109 |
| Riverside | $42,750 | $42,450 | $37,350 | $35,684 | 106 |
| Oxnard | $42,550 | $42,060 | $37,880 | $35,531 | 111 |
| Stockton | $42,430 | $41,170 | $37,560 | $35,440 | 105 |
| Modesto | $42,220 | $41,910 | $37,600 | $35,279 | 104 |
| Yuba City | $41,620 | $39,160 | $37,450 | $34,821 | 104 |
| Merced | $40,920 | $38,480 | $36,810 | $34,287 | 98 |
| Fresno | $40,460 | $38,260 | $36,450 | $33,936 | 102 |
| Redding | $40,390 | $38,200 | $36,050 | $33,882 | 101 |
| Hanford | $40,190 | $38,810 | $36,860 | $33,729 | 102 |
| Chico | $40,100 | $37,980 | $36,420 | $33,661 | 101 |
| Bakersfield | $40,050 | $37,800 | $36,280 | $33,622 | 101 |
| El Centro | $39,760 | $37,710 | $35,920 | $33,401 | 95 |
| Visalia | $39,610 | $37,090 | $36,260 | $33,287 | 100 |
*Average salary after federal and state taxes for a single filer; California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included. Cost of living: BEA price parity, U.S. = 100.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in other states
More about pay in California
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-2014.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
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