Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in California
In California, the median pay for cooks, institution and cafeteria is $22.31 an hour ($46,390 a year). About 31,660 people work in this job there.
That is 24% higher than the U.S. median ($37,450). California ranks 6th of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for cooks, institution and cafeteria in California
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $18.06 | $37,570 |
| 25% of workers | $19.35 | $40,240 |
| Half of workers (median) | $22.31 | $46,390 |
| 75% of workers | $25.03 | $52,060 |
| 90% of workers | $28.67 | $59,630 |
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in California metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $51,880 | 2,640 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $49,140 | 4,280 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $48,210 | 430 |
| Napa | $48,060 | 130 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $47,310 | 80 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $47,260 | 420 |
| Vallejo | $47,130 | 270 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $47,100 | 3,070 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $46,850 | 250 |
| Salinas | $46,820 | 350 |
| Modesto | $45,480 | 330 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $45,400 | 9,860 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $45,020 | 1,780 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $44,970 | 340 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $44,570 | 610 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $44,470 | 2,540 |
| Merced | $44,410 | 190 |
| Redding | $44,250 | 200 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $43,950 | 400 |
| Yuba City | $43,940 | 120 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $43,910 | 510 |
| Fresno | $42,580 | 900 |
| Visalia | $41,820 | 280 |
| Chico | $41,380 | 140 |
| El Centro | $40,980 | 70 |
California unemployment rate: 5.1% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Typical education to start: No formal educational credential (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 1 to 3 months (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Short-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +2.8% over ten years, about as fast as average · about 62,900 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $42,280 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $44,880 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,980 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $42,050 |
| Food Preparation Workers | $39,350 |
| Food Service Managers | $78,260 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $64,500 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $42,930 |
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.