The median annual wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in California is $66,780 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $71,350.
Pay spans roughly $45,500 at the 10th percentile to $100,580 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $32.11 per hour. An estimated 26,500 people work as chefs and head cooks in California.
| Median (annual) | $66,780 |
| Mean (annual) | $71,350 |
| Median (hourly) | $32.11 |
| 10th percentile | $45,500 |
| 90th percentile | $100,580 |
| Employment | 26,500 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.