The median annual wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Salinas, CA is $73,260 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $76,710.
Pay spans roughly $44,320 at the 10th percentile to $122,170 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $35.22 per hour. An estimated 340 people work as chefs and head cooks in Salinas, CA.
| Median (annual) | $73,260 |
| Mean (annual) | $76,710 |
| Median (hourly) | $35.22 |
| 10th percentile | $44,320 |
| 90th percentile | $122,170 |
| Employment | 340 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.