Cooks (Short Order) Salary in California
Cooks (Short Order) in California earn a median of $42,930 a year, +20% compared with the U.S. median.
Updated October 2026 · Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
- Median pay
- $42,930
- vs. U.S. median
- +20% ($35,880)
- Rank among states
- 5 of 49
- Jobs in the state
- 30,740
Pay range in California
The lowest-paid 10% earn under $35,880; the top 10% earn over $47,150. Nationally the range is $23,440 to $46,460.
States ranked near California
Similar jobs in California
- Cooks, Fast Food$42,050 median in California
- Cooks, Restaurant$44,880 median in California
- Food Preparation Workers$39,350 median in California
- Butchers and Meat Cutters$44,290 median in California
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$46,390 median in California
- Fast Food and Counter Workers$42,280 median in California
Cooks (Short Order) pay in California
How much do cooks (short order) make in California?
The median is $42,930 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $35,880 and the top 10% earn over $47,150. BLS OEWS May 2025.
Is California a good state for cooks (short order)?
On pay alone it ranks 5 of 49 (+20% vs. the national median of $35,880). Living costs are not included.