Chef and Head Cook Salary in Fresno, CA
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Fresno, CA metro area earn a median $61,870 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $49,327 take-home, or $4,111 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median chef and head cook salary in Fresno, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,244
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,836
- Medicare (1.45%)$897
- California income tax$1,762
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$804
- Take-home pay$49,327
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Chef and Head Cook pay by experience in Fresno, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,900 | $17.74 | $30,884 | $2,574 |
| 25th percentile | $42,740 | $20.55 | $35,267 | $2,939 |
| Median (50th) | $61,870 | $29.75 | $49,327 | $4,111 |
| 75th percentile | $74,730 | $35.93 | $57,665 | $4,805 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $93,480 | $44.94 | $68,914 | $5,743 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $61,870 buys in Fresno, CA
Prices in Fresno, CA are 2.2% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 4% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median chef and head cook's $49,327 take-home pay has the buying power of $48,285 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Chef and Head Cook jobs are less concentrated in Fresno, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.80), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for chefs and head cooks, adjusted for cost of living
Fresno, CA ranks #49 of 74 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albany, NY | $84,430 | $64,264 | $64,544 |
| 2 | Providence, RI | $79,340 | $62,287 | $61,202 |
| 3 | Nashville, TN | $70,420 | $58,370 | $60,589 |
| 4 | Buffalo, NY | $74,290 | $57,678 | $60,179 |
| 5 | Atlantic City, NJ | $75,740 | $59,476 | $60,164 |
| 6 | Memphis, TN | $66,230 | $55,396 | $60,096 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $80,330 | $65,342 | $58,796 |
| 8 | Atlanta, GA | $74,660 | $58,101 | $58,068 |
| 49 | Fresno, CA | $61,870 | $49,327 | $48,285 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 74 metros →
Chef and Head Cook salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $79,020
- Santa Rosa, CA — $73,570
- Los Angeles, CA — $69,990
- Riverside, CA — $64,480
- Santa Maria, CA — $65,060
- San Francisco, CA — $68,970
- Oxnard, CA — $62,620
- Sacramento, CA — $57,870
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chef and head cook make in Fresno, CA?
The median chef and head cook salary in the Fresno, CA metro area is $61,870 a year, or about $29.75 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $42,740 and $74,730.
What is a chef and head cook’s take-home pay in Fresno, CA?
On the median $61,870 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $49,327 a year ($4,111 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,566 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Fresno, CA a good place to work as a chef and head cook?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $62,470. Local prices are 2.2% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $48,285 would in a typical U.S. city. Fresno, CA ranks #49 of 74 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a chef and head cook afford rent in Fresno, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Fresno, CA is $1,315 a month ($1,625 for two bedrooms) — 32% of a median chef and head cook’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Fresno, CA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $44,730
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $42,580
- Cooks, Fast Food — $39,620
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $39,480
- Cooks, Short Order — $38,280
- Cooks, Restaurant — $38,260
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — $37,760
- Food Preparation Worker — $37,730
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $36,770
- Dishwasher — $35,110
- Waiter and Waitress — $34,320
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $34,320