SOC 35-2015 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Short Order — Oxnard
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA · 10 metro areas compared
In Oxnard, CA the median wage for Cooks, Short Order is $42,990 a year, which is 19.8% higher than the national figure of $35,880.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Oxnard, CA the median wage for Cooks, Short Order is $42,990 a year, which is 19.8% higher than the national figure of $35,880. Half of workers earn between $36,830 and $47,200. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $35,300 and the ninetieth at $49,260.
Santa Rosa leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $46,450. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 425th of 489 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,300 | −1.6% |
| 25th | $36,830 | +2.6% |
| Median (50th) | $42,990 | +19.8% |
| 75th | $47,200 | +31.5% |
| 90th | $49,260 | +37.3% |
| Mean | $41,900 | +16.8% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Rosa | $46,450 | 700 | |
| 2 | San Jose | $45,990 | 1,660 | |
| 3 | San Francisco | $45,790 | 4,430 | |
| 4 | Vallejo | $45,360 | 240 | |
| 5 | Napa | $43,930 | 150 | |
| 6 | Los Angeles | $43,680 | 12,410 | |
| 7 | Yuba City | $42,400 | 80 | |
| 8 | Salinas | $40,550 | 260 | |
| 9 | Hanford | $39,300 | 60 | |
| 10 | Santa Cruz | $39,140 | 210 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Oxnard run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $42,990 buys what $38,835 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 8.2% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$42,990as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$38,835US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $42,990 a year, 19.8% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $35,300 to $49,260 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Santa Rosa, at $46,450.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Short Order in Oxnard, CA?
The median annual wage is $42,990, or $20.67 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 $35,880, so pay in Oxnard, CA is 19.8% 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 Oxnard, CA earns more than $49,260 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $35,300 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 Santa Rosa, at $46,450 per year.
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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