How Much Do Cooks, Restaurant 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 Cooks, Restaurant in California earns $44,880 per year and takes home $37,457 ($3,121/month) — a keep-rate of 83.5%, with 152,250 employed in the state.
Free. No signup. Single filer, standard deduction — full model.
| Gross pay | $3,740.00 |
| Federal income tax | $267.13 |
| Social Security | $231.88 |
| Medicare | $54.23 |
| California state income tax | $65.38 |
| You keep | $3,121.38 |
How much do Cooks, Restaurant make in California?
The median Cooks, Restaurant in California earns $44,880 per year (BLS May 2025), about $21.58 per hour.
What is that after taxes?
$44,880 gross in California keeps $37,457 after federal income tax ($3,206), FICA ($3,433) and state income tax ($785) — $3,121 per month, a 83.5% keep-rate.
How does California compare to the national median for Cooks, Restaurant?
The California median is $7,490 above the national median of $37,390.
Which state pays Cooks, Restaurant the most?
Washington has the highest median gross for Cooks, Restaurant at $46,800 — but compare take-home, not gross: state taxes change the order.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in every state · California paycheck calculator · California minimum wage