How much does a chef and head cook make in San Francisco?
$68,970a year
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area. That is $33.16 an hour or $5,748 a month.
- Hourly
- $33.16
- Vs. national median
- +10%
- Rank among cities
- 40 of 340
- Jobs in the area
- 5,340
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $42,860Median: $68,970Highest 10%: $115,200
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $42,860 | $20.61 | |
| 25th | $48,110 | $23.13 | |
| Median | $68,970 | $33.16 | |
| 75th | $90,530 | $43.52 | |
| 90th | $115,200 | $55.37 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks.
| San Jose, CA | $79,020 |
| Napa, CA | $78,960 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $73,570 |
| Salinas, CA | $72,440 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $69,990 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $65,060 |
| Riverside, CA | $64,480 |
| Vallejo, CA | $63,230 |
| Oxnard, CA | $62,620 |
| Fresno, CA | $61,870 |
| Modesto, CA | $61,330 |
| San Diego, CA | $60,600 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $59,400 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $59,190 |
| Sacramento, CA | $57,870 |
| Visalia, CA | $57,600 |
| Merced, CA | $57,500 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $57,220 |
| Redding, CA | $56,550 |
| Chico, CA | $55,990 |
| Stockton, CA | $55,210 |
| Hanford, CA | $45,800 |
| Yuba City, CA | $44,340 |
Related jobs in San Francisco
Same field, median yearly pay.
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $51,520 |
| Cook | $49,140 |
| Cook | $46,670 |
| Cook | $46,030 |
| Cook | $45,790 |
| Food Server | $44,710 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $43,870 |
| Cook | $42,860 |
| Dishwasher | $42,100 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $41,970 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chef and head cook make an hour in San Francisco?
The median hourly pay in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $33.16 ($68,970 a year).
Do chef and head cooks make more in San Francisco than the national average?
Yes: $68,970 against $62,470 nationally, 10% more.
How does San Francisco compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $64,500, so San Francisco pays 7% more.
Where does San Francisco rank for chef and head cook pay?
40 of 340 metro areas with data.
How much does a chef and head cook make starting out in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% make $42,860 or less a year; the top 10% make $115,200 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.