Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Bakersfield, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Bakersfield-Delano, CA

Median annual salary $63,280 +3.8% vs national
Median hourly $30.42
10th percentile $34,640
90th percentile $87,320
Employed locally 220
National median $60,990

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Chefs and Head Cooks
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Bakersfield, CA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $34,640
    25th
    $44,930
    50th (median)
    $63,280
    75th
    $73,660
    90th
    $87,320

    Bakersfield economic context

    Unemployment rate 8.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $67,660 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 94% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 6% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Chefs and Head Cooks

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $87,410
    Morgantown, WV $87,280
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $85,370
    Terre Haute, IN $83,880
    East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area $81,720
    Hawaii $81,200

    Nearby metros — Chefs and Head Cooks salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $78,050
    Napa, CA $76,350
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $74,640
    Salinas, CA $73,260
    Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $72,220
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $71,600

    Related occupations in Bakersfield, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $36,440
    Waiters and Waitresses $33,350
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $45,080
    Cooks, Fast Food $35,620
    Cooks, Restaurant $37,630
    Food Preparation Workers $35,720

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make per hour in Bakersfield?

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Bakersfield, CA is $30.42, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $41.55 or more per hour.

    Is Bakersfield above or below average for Chefs and Head Cooks salaries?

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Bakersfield, CA is 3.8% above the national median of $60,990. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Chefs and Head Cooks in Bakersfield?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $34,640 per year in Bakersfield, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $44,930.