Chef and Head Cook Salary in Oxnard, CA
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA metro area earn a median $62,620 a year — 0% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $49,874 take-home, or $4,156 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median chef and head cook salary in Oxnard, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,334
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,882
- Medicare (1.45%)$908
- California income tax$1,807
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$814
- Take-home pay$49,874
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Chef and Head Cook pay by experience in Oxnard, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,500 | $17.55 | $30,584 | $2,549 |
| 25th percentile | $42,630 | $20.50 | $35,184 | $2,932 |
| Median (50th) | $62,620 | $30.11 | $49,874 | $4,156 |
| 75th percentile | $79,430 | $38.19 | $60,519 | $5,043 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $96,920 | $46.60 | $70,969 | $5,914 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $62,620 buys in Oxnard, CA
Prices in Oxnard, CA are 10.5% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.71× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median chef and head cook's $49,874 take-home pay has the buying power of $45,121 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 about as common in Oxnard, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.16).
Best-paying cities for chefs and head cooks, adjusted for cost of living
Oxnard, CA ranks #64 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 |
| 64 | Oxnard, CA | $62,620 | $49,874 | $45,121 |
*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
- Fresno, CA — $61,870
- Los Angeles, CA — $69,990
- Riverside, CA — $64,480
- Santa Maria, CA — $65,060
- San Francisco, CA — $68,970
- Sacramento, CA — $57,870
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chef and head cook make in Oxnard, CA?
The median chef and head cook salary in the Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA metro area is $62,620 a year, or about $30.11 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $42,630 and $79,430.
What is a chef and head cook’s take-home pay in Oxnard, CA?
On the median $62,620 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $49,874 a year ($4,156 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,621 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Oxnard, CA a good place to work as a chef and head cook?
Pay here is 0% above the national median of $62,470. Local prices are 10.5% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $45,121 would in a typical U.S. city. Oxnard, CA ranks #64 of 74 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a chef and head cook afford rent in Oxnard, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Oxnard, CA is $2,250 a month ($2,693 for two bedrooms) — 54% of a median chef and head cook’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Oxnard, CA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $46,070
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $44,570
- Cooks, Fast Food — $42,530
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $42,370
- Cooks, Restaurant — $42,060
- Food Preparation Worker — $37,680
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $37,480
- Dishwasher — $36,670
- Bartender — $35,590
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $35,370
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $34,970
- Waiter and Waitress — $34,910