The median annual wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in California is $45,680 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $47,060.
Pay spans roughly $36,710 at the 10th percentile to $59,960 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $21.96 per hour. An estimated 27,320 people work as cooks, institution and cafeteria in California.
| Median (annual) | $45,680 |
| Mean (annual) | $47,060 |
| Median (hourly) | $21.96 |
| 10th percentile | $36,710 |
| 90th percentile | $59,960 |
| Employment | 27,320 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.