Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
California employs 31,670 Chefs and Head Cooks professionals, above the national average concentration.
Data: BLS OEWS 2025 • California employment outlook • Updated 2026-05-19
The location quotient (LQ) of 8.07 indicates that California has a higher-than-average concentration of Chefs and Head Cooks professionals. This means the job is in high demand relative to other states, suggesting strong local job market opportunities.
Note: Location Quotient (LQ) is the ratio of the percentage of workers in an occupation in a given area to the percentage in that occupation nationwide. An LQ > 1.0 means above-average concentration; < 1.0 means below-average.
The average annual salary for a Chefs and Head Cooks in California is $69,130. For a detailed breakdown by percentile, entry-level, median, and senior salaries, see the comprehensive salary guide below.
California employs approximately 31,670 Chefs and Head Cooks professionals (2025 BLS data). This ranks California among the top states nationwide.
Yes — California has above-average concentration of Chefs and Head Cooks jobs (LQ: 8.07). A Location Quotient above 1.0 indicates higher-than-average demand.
The average (mean) salary for Chefs and Head Cooks in California is $69130/year. See our detailed salary page for percentile breakdowns.
Location Quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is in a state compared to the national average. LQ > 1.0 means the state has more of that job proportionally. LQ > 1.2 indicates strong demand.
The top state for Chefs and Head Cooks employment is California with 31,670 jobs.
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Compare Chefs and Head Cooks labor-market data (jobs, location quotient, salary) across the top-employing states.
Drill deeper into Chefs and Head Cooks pay, hiring, and education data for California.
Employment and location quotient data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2025. This data reflects total employment, jobs per 1,000 workers, location quotient, and average salary for Chefs and Head Cooks (SOC 351011) in California.