Chef and Head Cook Salary in Riverside, CA
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn a median $64,480 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $51,205 take-home, or $4,267 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median chef and head cook salary in Riverside, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,558
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,998
- Medicare (1.45%)$935
- California income tax$1,946
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$838
- Take-home pay$51,205
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 8.00% state
Chef and Head Cook pay by experience in Riverside, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,970 | $18.25 | $31,687 | $2,641 |
| 25th percentile | $49,760 | $23.92 | $40,480 | $3,373 |
| Median (50th) | $64,480 | $31.00 | $51,205 | $4,267 |
| 75th percentile | $74,950 | $36.03 | $57,799 | $4,817 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $96,470 | $46.38 | $70,700 | $5,892 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $64,480 buys in Riverside, CA
Prices in Riverside, CA are 6.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.29× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median chef and head cook's $51,205 take-home pay has the buying power of $48,106 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Riverside, CA has 1.3× 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
Riverside, CA ranks #52 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 |
| 52 | Riverside, CA | $64,480 | $51,205 | $48,106 |
*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
- 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 Riverside, CA?
The median chef and head cook salary in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area is $64,480 a year, or about $31.00 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $49,760 and $74,950.
What is a chef and head cook’s take-home pay in Riverside, CA?
On the median $64,480 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $51,205 a year ($4,267 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,784 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Riverside, CA a good place to work as a chef and head cook?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $62,470. Local prices are 6.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $48,106 would in a typical U.S. city. Riverside, CA ranks #52 of 74 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a chef and head cook afford rent in Riverside, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Riverside, CA is $1,777 a month ($2,201 for two bedrooms) — 42% of a median chef and head cook’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Riverside, CA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $44,990
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $44,470
- Cooks, Fast Food — $42,480
- Cooks, Restaurant — $42,450
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $42,280
- Food Preparation Worker — $38,420
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $37,120
- Dishwasher — $36,710
- Cooks, Short Order — $35,610
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — $35,260
- Bartender — $34,840
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $34,830