State comparison · 2025
Chefs and Head Cooks salary: California vs District of Columbia
Chefs and Head Cooks in District of Columbia earn a median of $76,420. In California, $64,500. After cost-of-living, the gap is 16.2% — not 15.6%.
Nominal pay gap
-15.6%
California vs District of Columbia
COL-adjusted gap
-16.2%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
California
Chefs and Head Cooks
- Median
- $64,500
- p25
- $46,320
- p75
- $81,040
- p10
- $37,380
- p90
- $101,870
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 110.7
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- +29%
District of Columbia
Chefs and Head Cooks
- Median
- $76,420
- p25
- $63,550
- p75
- $81,360
- p10
- $56,570
- p90
- $104,660
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 109.9
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities (overall index). Hiring velocity from DOL OFLC public disclosure data, recent 180 days vs prior. See methodology.