SOC 35-2014 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Restaurant — Salinas
Salinas, CA · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Salinas, CA comes to $44,930 a year, ahead of the national median of $37,390 by 20.2%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Salinas, CA comes to $44,930 a year, ahead of the national median of $37,390 by 20.2%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $38,240 and $47,970. The lowest tenth earn under $37,150, while the highest tenth earn more than $57,980.
The area has 1,910 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.13 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Napa leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $47,320. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 293rd of 369 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,150 | −0.6% |
| 25th | $38,240 | +2.3% |
| Median (50th) | $44,930 | +20.2% |
| 75th | $47,970 | +28.3% |
| 90th | $57,980 | +55.1% |
| Mean | $45,310 | +21.2% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Napa | $47,320 | 1,270 | |
| 2 | San Jose | $47,170 | 8,900 | |
| 3 | San Diego | $46,440 | 15,670 | |
| 4 | San Francisco | $46,030 | 20,540 | |
| 5 | Santa Rosa | $45,720 | 2,340 | |
| 6 | Santa Cruz | $44,560 | 1,020 | |
| 7 | Los Angeles | $44,460 | 54,320 | |
| 8 | Sacramento | $44,230 | 9,240 | |
| 9 | Vallejo | $44,100 | 1,020 | |
| 10 | Santa Maria | $43,340 | 2,300 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Salinas run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $44,930 buys what $40,587 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 8.6% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$44,930as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$40,587US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $44,930 a year, 20.2% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $37,150 to $57,980 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,910 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Napa, at $47,320.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Salinas, CA?
The median annual wage is $44,930, or $21.60 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 $37,390, so pay in Salinas, CA is 20.2% 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 $57,980 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $37,150 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 Napa, at $47,320 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,910 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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