Bakersfield-Delano, CA · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Restaurant Cook Salary in Bakersfield-Delano, CA

In the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metropolitan area, restaurant cooks earned a median annual wage of $40,900 ($19.66/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $33,800/year and the 90th was $50,600/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and California tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $34,424 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 100.9 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$40,900$19.66 per hour · $3,408 monthly
10th Percentile$33,800$16.25/hr base
25th Percentile$35,200$16.92/hr base
75th Percentile$43,100$20.72/hr base
90th Percentile$50,600$24.33/hr base

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-Home Pay Explorer

$40,900
$15,000$85,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$40,900
Net 84%
Fed 7%
CA 2%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$34,424After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,869Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,324Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate15.8%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$2,728 / yr
California state income tax$619 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$3,129 / yr

Cooks, Restaurant Wage Percentiles in Bakersfield-Delano, CA

Official survey estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Full-time calculations assume standard 2,080 annual working hours.

Wage Distribution for Cooks, Restaurant in the Bakersfield-Delano, CA Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (CA)
10th Percentile$16.25/hr$2,817$33,800$29,004
25th Percentile$16.92/hr$2,933$35,200$30,073
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$19.66/hr$3,408$40,900$34,424
75th Percentile$20.72/hr$3,592$43,100$36,104
90th Percentile$24.33/hr$4,217$50,600$41,762

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Bakersfield-Delano, CA

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$40,900 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$70,210Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index100.90.9% above national average
Individual vs Household Ratio58.3%of area median income

Compare restaurant cooks salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in California:

Frequently Asked Questions About Cooks, Restaurant Pay in Bakersfield-Delano, CA

What is the median salary for restaurant cooks in Bakersfield-Delano, CA?

The official BLS median annual wage for restaurant cooks in Bakersfield-Delano, CA is $40,900, which equates to approximately $3,408 per month or $19.66 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for restaurant cooks in Bakersfield-Delano, CA?

The median hourly wage for restaurant cooks in Bakersfield-Delano, CA is $19.66 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $16.25/hour and one in ten earned more than $24.33/hour.

What is the pay range for restaurant cooks in Bakersfield-Delano, CA?

BLS wage estimates for restaurant cooks in Bakersfield-Delano, CA span from $33,800 at the 10th percentile to $35,200 at the 25th, $43,100 at the 75th, and $50,600 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do restaurant cooks take home after taxes in Bakersfield-Delano, CA?

On a median gross salary of $40,900, an estimated $34,424 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,324 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in California in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $6,476 (an effective rate of 15.8%).

How much do restaurant cooks make per month in Bakersfield-Delano, CA?

On the median annual salary of $40,900, gross monthly income is $3,408. After federal, FICA, and California state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,869 per month (or $1,324 every two weeks).

Is $40,900 a good salary in Bakersfield-Delano, CA?

At $40,900, the median salary for restaurant cooks is 58.3% of the Bakersfield-Delano, CA median household income ($70,210). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 100.9, making regional consumer goods and services 0.9% more expensive than the U.S. average.