Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks salary in California
Roles that require limited judgement and close supervision. Typically less than two years of relevant experience or fresh graduates entering the field.
Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks in California: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 6 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $50,502. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 6 | $50,502 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks in California. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurant Nisei, LLC | Commis Chef | 1 | $50,960 |
| Yokai SF LLC | Sous Chef | 1 | $51,000 |
| Sweet Jane's, LLC | Pastry Baker (Pastry Bakery Chef) | 1 | $52,000 |
| Variety Lights, Inc. | Line Chef | 1 | $50,045 |
| Alexander's Steakhouse, Inc. | Chef de Partie | 1 | $50,045 |
| Rooster Creek, Inc. | Second Chef | 1 | $41,600 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Commis Chef at Restaurant Nisei, LLC$50,960San FranciscoWage Level IDecided Sep 26, 2025I-202-25262-322242
- Sous Chef at Yokai SF LLC$51,000San FranciscoWage Level IDecided Aug 12, 2025I-202-25218-223713
- Pastry Baker (Pastry Bakery Chef) at Sweet Jane's, LLC$52,000San FranciscoWage Level IDecided Nov 19, 2024I-202-24317-470823
- Line Chef at Variety Lights, Inc.$50,045San FranciscoWage Level IDecided Nov 1, 2024I-202-24299-434671
- Chef de Partie at Alexander's Steakhouse, Inc.$50,045San FranciscoWage Level IDecided Oct 1, 2024I-202-24268-361863
- Second Chef at Rooster Creek, Inc.$41,600Arroyo GrandeWage Level IDecided Oct 1, 2024I-201-24268-361475
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.