Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in California
As of May 2025, the median annual wage for cooks, institution and cafeteria in California was $46,390 +23.9% vs national
California vs United States
| California | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual | $46,390 | $37,450 |
| Median hourly | $22.31 | $18.01 |
| Employment | 31,660 | 441,050 |
| Location quotient | 0.61 | 1.00 |
Data source: BLS OES state file (California) · U.S. BLS OES survey, May 2025
What this means
Pay spans a wide range: workers at the 10th percentile earn about $37,570, while those at the 90th percentile earn about $59,630 — a 1.6x gap between entry-level and top earners.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in California?
The median annual wage in California is $46,390 ($22.31 per hour), per BLS OES May 2025 data.
How does California compare to the national average for cooks, institution and cafeteria?
The California median of $46,390 is 23.9% higher than the U.S. median of $37,450.
How many cooks, institution and cafeteria work in California?
Approximately 31,660 are employed in California, per BLS OES.