Chef and Head Cook Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $69,990 a year — 12% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $54,771 take-home, or $4,564 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median chef and head cook salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$6,568
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,339
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,015
- California income tax$2,387
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$910
- Take-home pay$54,771
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Chef and Head Cook pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,310 | $17.94 | $31,192 | $2,599 |
| 25th percentile | $48,310 | $23.23 | $39,421 | $3,285 |
| Median (50th) | $69,990 | $33.65 | $54,771 | $4,564 |
| 75th percentile | $80,850 | $38.87 | $61,367 | $5,114 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $102,760 | $49.40 | $74,459 | $6,205 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $69,990 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median chef and head cook's $54,771 take-home pay has the buying power of $48,228 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Los Angeles, CA has 1.4× the national concentration of chef and head cook jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for chefs and head cooks, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #12 of 18 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $80,330 | $65,342 | $58,796 |
| 2 | Atlanta, GA | $74,660 | $58,101 | $58,068 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $74,900 | $58,100 | $53,360 |
| 4 | Las Vegas, NV | $62,380 | $52,302 | $52,190 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $72,470 | $56,409 | $52,102 |
| 6 | Dallas, TX | $64,100 | $53,684 | $52,075 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $65,680 | $52,938 | $51,619 |
| 8 | Orlando, FL | $61,390 | $51,507 | $50,787 |
| 12 | Los Angeles, CA | $69,990 | $54,771 | $48,228 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 18 metros →
About the job: chefs and head cooks
Direct and may participate in the preparation, seasoning, and cooking of salads, soups, fish, meats, vegetables, desserts, or other foods. May plan and price menu items, order supplies, and keep records and accounts.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- 5 years or more
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +6.6% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Chef and Head Cook salaries elsewhere in California
- Riverside, CA — $64,480
- San Francisco, CA — $68,970
- San Diego, CA — $60,600
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chef and head cook make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median chef and head cook salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $69,990 a year, or about $33.65 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $48,310 and $80,850.
What is a chef and head cook’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $69,990 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $54,771 a year ($4,564 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,297 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a chef and head cook?
Pay here is 12% above the national median of $62,470. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $48,228 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #12 of 18 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a chef and head cook afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 49% of a median chef and head cook’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Los Angeles, CA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $46,970
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $45,400
- Cooks, Restaurant — $44,460
- Cooks, Short Order — $43,680
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $42,110
- Food Preparation Worker — $39,770
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $38,350
- Cooks, Fast Food — $38,000
- Dishwasher — $37,580
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $36,920
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — $36,810
- Waiter and Waitress — $35,850