Cooks, Fast Food Salary in California
As of May 2025, the median annual wage for cooks, fast food in California was $42,050 +36.1% vs national
California vs United States
| California | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual | $42,050 | $30,890 |
| Median hourly | $20.21 | $14.85 |
| Employment | 124,440 | 641,070 |
| Location quotient | 1.66 | 1.00 |
Data source: BLS OES state file (California) · U.S. BLS OES survey, May 2025
The numbers in context
For career planning: entry-level pay (10th percentile) is about $35,750, median pay is $42,050, and experienced pay (90th percentile) reaches $48,750.
Employment density in California is 1.66x the national average — a above-average concentration of these roles in the local economy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average cooks, fast food salary in California?
The median annual wage in California is $42,050 ($20.21 per hour), per BLS OES May 2025 data.
How does California compare to the national average for cooks, fast food?
The California median of $42,050 is 36.1% higher than the U.S. median of $30,890.
How many cooks, fast food work in California?
Approximately 124,440 are employed in California, per BLS OES.