Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Sacramento, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA

Median annual salary $63,930 +4.8% vs national
Median hourly $30.74
10th percentile $46,990
90th percentile $97,380
Employed locally 1,240
National median $60,990

Compare Chefs and Head Cooks salary & buying power

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Chefs and Head Cooks
in
Sacramento, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $46,990
    25th
    $51,120
    50th (median)
    $63,930
    75th
    $78,970
    90th
    $97,380

    Sacramento economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.70% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $93,986 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 68% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 32% 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 Sacramento, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $37,650
    Waiters and Waitresses $35,070
    Cooks, Restaurant $43,600
    Cooks, Fast Food $36,380
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $46,590
    Bartenders $34,120

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Sacramento, CA is $30.74, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $45.57 or more per hour.

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

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Sacramento, CA is 4.8% 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 Sacramento?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $46,990 per year in Sacramento, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $51,120.