Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Riverside, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA

Median annual salary $38,600 +4.8% vs national
Median hourly $18.56
10th percentile $35,290
90th percentile $47,430
Employed locally 16,310
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
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Riverside, CA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $35,290
    25th
    $36,290
    50th (median)
    $38,600
    75th
    $44,730
    90th
    $47,430

    Riverside economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $86,031 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 45% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 55% below the area median household income

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Restaurant make per hour in Riverside?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Riverside, CA is $18.56, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $23.70 or more per hour.

    Is Riverside above or below average for Cooks, Restaurant salaries?

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Riverside, CA is 4.8% above the national median of $36,830. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Restaurant in Riverside?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $35,290 per year in Riverside, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $36,290.