Cooks, All Other Salary in Salinas, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Salinas, CA

Median annual salary $38,080 +5.2% vs national
Median hourly $18.31
10th percentile $35,000
90th percentile $53,490
National median $36,210

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Cooks, All Other
in
Salinas, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $35,000
    25th
    $36,160
    50th (median)
    $38,080
    75th
    $46,760
    90th
    $53,490

    Salinas economic context

    Unemployment rate 7.30% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $94,486 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, All Other salary vs area income 40% Median Cooks, All Other salary is 60% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, All Other

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Massachusetts $67,140
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $56,870
    Washington $54,460
    South Florida nonmetropolitan area $53,950
    Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $53,580
    Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $51,690

    Nearby metros — Cooks, All Other salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $47,100
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $43,890
    Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $43,260
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $41,600
    San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA $41,030
    California $39,430

    Related occupations in Salinas, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers$37,440
    Waiters and Waitresses$35,390
    Cooks, Restaurant$44,490
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$47,460
    Cooks, Fast Food$37,960
    Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$35,360

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, All Other make per hour in Salinas?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, All Other in Salinas, CA is $18.31, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $26.40 or more per hour.

    Is Salinas above or below average for Cooks, All Other salaries?

    The median Cooks, All Other salary in Salinas, CA is 5.2% above the national median of $36,210. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, All Other in Salinas?

    Entry-level Cooks, All Other (10th percentile) earn around $35,000 per year in Salinas, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $36,160.