Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Restaurant Cook Salary in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

In the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metropolitan area, restaurant cooks earned a median annual wage of $46,000 ($22.12/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $38,100/year and the 90th was $57,000/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and California tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $38,318 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 113.6 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$46,000$22.12 per hour · $3,833 monthly
10th Percentile$38,100$18.32/hr base
25th Percentile$39,600$19.04/hr base
75th Percentile$48,500$23.32/hr base
90th Percentile$57,000$27.40/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

$46,000
$15,000$95,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$46,000
Net 83%
Fed 7%
CA 2%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$38,318After all taxes
Monthly deposit$3,193Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,474Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate16.7%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$3,340 / yr
California state income tax$823 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$3,519 / yr

Cooks, Restaurant Wage Percentiles in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, 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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (CA)
10th Percentile$18.32/hr$3,175$38,100$32,287
25th Percentile$19.04/hr$3,300$39,600$33,432
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$22.12/hr$3,833$46,000$38,318
75th Percentile$23.32/hr$4,042$48,500$40,200
90th Percentile$27.40/hr$4,750$57,000$46,520

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$46,000 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$95,958Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index113.613.6% above national average
Individual vs Household Ratio47.9%of area median income

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Cooks, Restaurant Pay in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

What is the median salary for restaurant cooks in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?

The official BLS median annual wage for restaurant cooks in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA is $46,000, which equates to approximately $3,833 per month or $22.12 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for restaurant cooks in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?

The median hourly wage for restaurant cooks in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA is $22.12 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $18.32/hour and one in ten earned more than $27.40/hour.

What is the pay range for restaurant cooks in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?

BLS wage estimates for restaurant cooks in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA span from $38,100 at the 10th percentile to $39,600 at the 25th, $48,500 at the 75th, and $57,000 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do restaurant cooks take home after taxes in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?

On a median gross salary of $46,000, an estimated $38,318 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,474 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in California in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $7,682 (an effective rate of 16.7%).

How much do restaurant cooks make per month in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?

On the median annual salary of $46,000, gross monthly income is $3,833. After federal, FICA, and California state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $3,193 per month (or $1,474 every two weeks).

Is $46,000 a good salary in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?

At $46,000, the median salary for restaurant cooks is 47.9% of the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA median household income ($95,958). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 113.6, making regional consumer goods and services 13.6% more expensive than the U.S. average.