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Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in California

What Chefs and Head Cooks earn in California, labor market by labor market, and what is left after taxes and living costs in 2 counties.

Average in CA
$66,807
local median wages, weighted
Rank among states
3 of 6
published states
Workers in state
31,390
BLS employment estimate
Wage areas
1
2 counties

Pay by labor market in California

Chefs and Head Cooks pay by wage area in California
Wage areaMedian wageTake-home payMargin per yearLargest county
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$69,990$55,322$16,886Los Angeles County, CA

Counties ranked by what is left after the basics

Chefs and Head Cooks in California counties, by yearly margin
#CountyMedian wageTake-home payMargin per year
1Los Angeles County, CA$69,990$55,322$16,886
2Orange County, CA$69,990$55,322$14,390

Chefs and Head Cooks pay in California

The employment-weighted average of local median wages for Chefs and Head Cooks in California is $66,807, based on 31,390 workers. Among the 6 states with published data, that ranks number 3. The BLS national median for the occupation is $62,470, so California averages 6.9% above it.

Published data for California currently covers the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA area, with a local median wage of $69,990.

Cost of living for Chefs and Head Cooks in California

We compare 2 California counties after federal, Social Security, Medicare and state taxes and the four basics: a one-bedroom rental, food, home energy and gasoline. Los Angeles County, CA leaves the largest yearly margin, $16,886. Orange County, CA leaves the smallest, $14,390. The median wage covers all four basics in 2 of the 2 counties.

Chefs and Head Cooks in other states

The states with the highest average local median wages for Chefs and Head Cooks are New York ($71,542), New Jersey ($70,465), Illinois ($59,383) and Florida ($57,739).

Frequently asked questions: Chefs and Head Cooks in California

How much do Chefs and Head Cooks earn in California?

The employment-weighted average of local median wages is $66,807.

Which California county is best for Chefs and Head Cooks?

Los Angeles County, CA leaves the largest yearly margin after taxes and the four basics ($16,886). Orange County, CA follows at $14,390.