Salaries › Fast Food Cook › California
Fast Food Cook Salary in California (2026)
$20.21 per hour · take-home ≈ $35,143/year ($2,929/month) for a single filer
California is among the top 5 highest-paying states for Fast Food Cooks (3rd of 51), with a median about 32% above the national average. Of the 124,440 Fast Food Cook jobs BLS counts in California, the typical worker earns $42,050 a year — though pay ranges from $35,750 for newcomers to $48,750 at the top.
Fast Food Cook pay range in California
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $35,750 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $37,260 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $42,050 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $43,300 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $48,750 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 124,440 Fast Food Cook jobs in California (occupation code 35-2011, “Cooks, Fast Food”).
Gross vs. take-home in California
A median Fast Food Cook salary of $42,050 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 $35,143 — an effective tax rate of 16.4%.
| Gross (median) | $42,050 |
| Federal income tax | −$2,866 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$3,217 |
| California state income tax | −$824 |
| Take-home (annual) | $35,143 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,929 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free California paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Fast Food Cook make in California?
- The median Fast Food Cook salary in California is $42,050 per year ($20.21 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $37,260 and $43,300.
- What is the take-home pay for a Fast Food Cook in California?
- On the median salary of $42,050, a single filer in California takes home about $35,143 per year ($2,929 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 16.4%.
- How many Fast Food Cook jobs are there in California?
- BLS counts 124,440 Fast Food Cook jobs in California in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Fast Food 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.