SOC 35-2011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Fast Food — Salinas
Salinas, CA · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Salinas, CA is $43,120 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 Salinas, CA is $43,120 per year, well above the national median of $30,890. The gap of 39.6% is among the widest recorded for this occupation. Half of workers earn between $37,020 and $44,060. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $35,130 and the ninetieth at $47,010.
Employment stands at 1,100, or 5.9 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, San Jose records the highest median at $47,220. Of the 369 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 309th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,130 | +13.7% |
| 25th | $37,020 | +19.8% |
| Median (50th) | $43,120 | +39.6% |
| 75th | $44,060 | +42.6% |
| 90th | $47,010 | +52.2% |
| Mean | $41,940 | +35.8% |
Other 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 | Santa Maria | $42,700 | 1,430 | |
| 8 | Oxnard | $42,530 | 2,520 | |
| 9 | Modesto | $42,510 | 1,620 | |
| 10 | Riverside | $42,480 | 16,910 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Salinas run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $43,120 buys what $38,952 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 26.1% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$43,120as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$38,952US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $43,120 a year, 39.6% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $35,130 to $47,010 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,100 jobs in 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 Salinas, CA?
The median annual wage is $43,120, or $20.73 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 Salinas, CA is 39.6% 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 Salinas, CA earns more than $47,010 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $35,130 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 1,100 jobs in this occupation in Salinas, CA. 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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