Salaries › Cafeteria Cook › California
Cafeteria Cook Salary in California (2026)
$22.31 per hour · take-home ≈ $38,456/year ($3,205/month) for a single filer
California ranks 6th of 51 states for Cafeteria Cook pay, with a median about 22% above the national average. Of the 31,660 Cafeteria Cook jobs BLS counts in California, the typical worker earns $46,390 a year — though pay ranges from $37,570 for newcomers to $59,630 at the top.
Cafeteria Cook pay range in California
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $37,570 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $40,240 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $46,390 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $52,060 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $59,630 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 31,660 Cafeteria Cook jobs in California (occupation code 35-2012, “Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria”).
Gross vs. take-home in California
A median Cafeteria Cook salary of $46,390 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus California state income tax, a single filer keeps about $38,456 — an effective tax rate of 17.1%.
| Gross (median) | $46,390 |
| Federal income tax | −$3,387 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$3,549 |
| California state income tax | −$998 |
| Take-home (annual) | $38,456 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,205 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free California paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Cafeteria Cook make in California?
- The median Cafeteria Cook salary in California is $46,390 per year ($22.31 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $40,240 and $52,060.
- What is the take-home pay for a Cafeteria Cook in California?
- On the median salary of $46,390, a single filer in California takes home about $38,456 per year ($3,205 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 17.1%.
- How many Cafeteria Cook jobs are there in California?
- BLS counts 31,660 Cafeteria Cook jobs in California in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Cafeteria Cooks
Other salaries in California
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified California state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for California.