Cook Salary in California (2026)
$21.58 per hour · take-home ≈ $37,304/year ($3,109/month) for a single filer
Cook pay range in California
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $37,100 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $38,590 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $44,880 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $47,330 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $55,580 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 152,250 Cook jobs in California (occupation code 35-2014, “Cooks, Restaurant”).
Gross vs. take-home in California
A median Cook salary of $44,880 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 $37,304 — an effective tax rate of 16.9%.
| Gross (median) | $44,880 |
| Federal income tax | −$3,206 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$3,433 |
| California state income tax | −$938 |
| Take-home (annual) | $37,304 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,109 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free California paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Cook make in California?
- The median Cook salary in California is $44,880 per year ($21.58 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $38,590 and $47,330.
- What is the take-home pay for a Cook in California?
- On the median salary of $44,880, a single filer in California takes home about $37,304 per year ($3,109 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 16.9%.
- How many Cook jobs are there in California?
- BLS counts 152,250 Cook jobs in California in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for 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.