How Much Do Chefs and Head Cooks Make in California?
Median wage from BLS May 2025 — and the after-tax number the salary sites skip. Tax year 2026.
Quick answer
According to payandtaxes.com's analysis of BLS May 2025 data and 2026 tax law, the median Chefs and Head Cooks in California earns $64,500 per year and takes home $52,058 ($4,338/month) — a keep-rate of 80.7%, with 31,670 employed in the state.
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| Gross pay | $5,375.00 |
| Federal income tax | $463.33 |
| Social Security | $333.25 |
| Medicare | $77.94 |
| California state income tax | $162.32 |
| You keep | $4,338.16 |
How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make in California?
The median Chefs and Head Cooks in California earns $64,500 per year (BLS May 2025), about $31.01 per hour.
What is that after taxes?
$64,500 gross in California keeps $52,058 after federal income tax ($5,560), FICA ($4,934) and state income tax ($1,948) — $4,338 per month, a 80.7% keep-rate.
How does California compare to the national median for Chefs and Head Cooks?
The California median is $2,030 above the national median of $62,470.
Which state pays Chefs and Head Cooks the most?
Rhode Island has the highest median gross for Chefs and Head Cooks at $79,930 — but compare take-home, not gross: state taxes change the order.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in every state · California paycheck calculator · California minimum wage