SOC 35-2011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Fast Food — California
California · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Cooks, Fast Food in California is $42,050 per year, well above the national median of $30,890.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Cooks, Fast Food in California is $42,050 per year, well above the national median of $30,890. The gap of 36.1% is among the widest recorded for this occupation. Half of workers earn between $37,260 and $43,300. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $35,750 and the ninetieth at $48,750.
Employment stands at 124,440, or 6.8 jobs per thousand held locally. California ranks number 3rd out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, San Jose records the highest median at $47,220. Of the 793 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 728th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,750 | +15.7% |
| 25th | $37,260 | +20.6% |
| Median (50th) | $42,050 | +36.1% |
| 75th | $43,300 | +40.2% |
| 90th | $48,750 | +57.8% |
| Mean | $41,490 | +34.3% |
Highest-paying metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose | $47,220 | 4,790 | |
| 2 | San Francisco | $46,670 | 10,160 | |
| 3 | Napa | $45,300 | 370 | |
| 4 | Vallejo | $44,450 | 1,150 | |
| 5 | Santa Rosa | $43,840 | 1,050 | |
| 6 | Santa Cruz | $43,630 | 710 | |
| 7 | Salinas | $43,120 | 1,100 | |
| 8 | Santa Maria | $42,700 | 1,430 | |
| 9 | Oxnard | $42,530 | 2,520 | |
| 10 | Modesto | $42,510 | 1,620 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in California run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $42,050 buys what $37,986 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 23.0% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$42,050as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$37,986US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $42,050 a year, 36.1% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $35,750 to $48,750 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 124,440 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 3rd of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Jose, at $47,220.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Fast Food in California?
The median annual wage is $42,050, or $20.21 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $30,890, so pay in California is 36.1% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in California earns more than $48,750 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $35,750 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in San Jose, at $47,220 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 124,440 jobs in this occupation in California. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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