Cooks, Short Order Salary in Riverside, CA
Cooks, Short Order in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn a median $35,610 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,916 take-home, or $2,493 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, short order salary in Riverside, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,093
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,208
- Medicare (1.45%)$516
- California income tax$414
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$463
- Take-home pay$29,916
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Cooks, Short Order pay by experience in Riverside, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,140 | $16.89 | $29,563 | $2,464 |
| 25th percentile | $35,250 | $16.95 | $29,646 | $2,470 |
| Median (50th) | $35,610 | $17.12 | $29,916 | $2,493 |
| 75th percentile | $42,120 | $20.25 | $34,802 | $2,900 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,020 | $20.68 | $35,477 | $2,956 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,610 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 cooks, short order's $29,916 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,105 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 1.5× the national concentration of cooks, short order jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for cooks, short order, adjusted for cost of living
Riverside, CA ranks #30 of 45 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $50,870 | $43,054 | $38,741 |
| 2 | Providence, RI | $44,050 | $36,539 | $35,903 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa, CA | $46,450 | $38,051 | $35,303 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $44,200 | $36,458 | $34,466 |
| 5 | San Jose, CA | $45,990 | $37,706 | $34,147 |
| 6 | Sioux Falls, SD | $35,570 | $30,760 | $33,940 |
| 7 | St. Louis, MO | $38,490 | $32,235 | $33,900 |
| 8 | Nashville, TN | $37,830 | $32,576 | $33,815 |
| 30 | Riverside, CA | $35,610 | $29,916 | $28,105 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 45 metros →
Cooks, Short Order salaries elsewhere in California
- Santa Rosa, CA — $46,450
- San Jose, CA — $45,990
- San Francisco, CA — $45,790
- Los Angeles, CA — $43,680
- Fresno, CA — $38,280
- Sacramento, CA — $38,480
- San Diego, CA — $37,300
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, short order make in Riverside, CA?
The median cooks, short order salary in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area is $35,610 a year, or about $17.12 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,250 and $42,120.
What is a cooks, short order’s take-home pay in Riverside, CA?
On the median $35,610 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $29,916 a year ($2,493 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $877 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Riverside, CA a good place to work as a cooks, short order?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $35,880. Local prices are 6.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,105 would in a typical U.S. city. Riverside, CA ranks #30 of 45 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, short order 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) — 71% of a median cooks, short order’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Riverside, CA
- Chef and Head Cook — $64,480
- 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
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — $35,260
- Bartender — $34,840
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $34,830