Advertisement
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria average salary by city in California
- San Jose$54,290
- San Francisco$52,440
- Vallejo$50,500
- Napa$50,320
- Santa Cruz$49,350
- Santa Maria$49,070
- Santa Rosa$49,000
- San Diego$48,170
- Salinas$48,160
- Hanford$47,540
- Modesto$46,530
- Los Angeles$46,490
- Oxnard$46,240
- Sacramento$45,770
- San Luis Obispo$45,670
- Riverside$45,640
- Redding$45,380
- Stockton$45,050
- Merced$45,000
- Yuba City$44,970
- Bakersfield$44,960
- Visalia$43,040
- Fresno$42,890
- Chico$42,850
- El Centro$41,800
Pay, take-home pay and cost of living
| City | Average | Median | 25th pct. | Take-home* | Cost of living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose | $54,290 | $51,880 | $48,630 | $44,352 | 110 |
| San Francisco | $52,440 | $49,140 | $45,910 | $42,977 | 116 |
| Vallejo | $50,500 | $47,130 | $42,480 | $41,534 | 108 |
| Napa | $50,320 | $48,060 | $43,810 | $41,400 | 113 |
| Santa Cruz | $49,350 | $46,850 | $43,450 | $40,679 | 110 |
| Santa Maria | $49,070 | $48,210 | $40,630 | $40,471 | 109 |
| Santa Rosa | $49,000 | $47,260 | $43,680 | $40,419 | 108 |
| San Diego | $48,170 | $47,100 | $42,430 | $39,802 | 112 |
| Salinas | $48,160 | $46,820 | $41,750 | $39,794 | 109 |
| Hanford | $47,540 | $47,310 | $39,730 | $39,333 | 102 |
| Modesto | $46,530 | $45,480 | $39,330 | $38,570 | 104 |
| Los Angeles | $46,490 | $45,400 | $39,070 | $38,539 | 114 |
| Oxnard | $46,240 | $44,570 | $39,180 | $38,349 | 111 |
| Sacramento | $45,770 | $45,020 | $38,970 | $37,990 | 107 |
| San Luis Obispo | $45,670 | $44,970 | $39,300 | $37,913 | 109 |
| Riverside | $45,640 | $44,470 | $38,340 | $37,890 | 106 |
| Redding | $45,380 | $44,250 | $37,850 | $37,692 | 101 |
| Stockton | $45,050 | $43,950 | $38,480 | $37,440 | 105 |
| Merced | $45,000 | $44,410 | $38,700 | $37,402 | 98 |
| Yuba City | $44,970 | $43,940 | $38,730 | $37,379 | 104 |
| Bakersfield | $44,960 | $43,910 | $38,820 | $37,371 | 101 |
| Visalia | $43,040 | $41,820 | $37,550 | $35,905 | 100 |
| Fresno | $42,890 | $42,580 | $37,220 | $35,791 | 102 |
| Chico | $42,850 | $41,380 | $38,430 | $35,760 | 101 |
| El Centro | $41,800 | $40,980 | $36,930 | $34,959 | 95 |
*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, Institution and Cafeteria 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 35-2012.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.