How much does a chef and head cook make in San Jose?
$79,020a year
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area. That is $37.99 an hour or $6,585 a month.
- Hourly
- $37.99
- Vs. national median
- +26%
- Rank among cities
- 7 of 340
- Jobs in the area
- 1,280
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $46,590Median: $79,020Highest 10%: $117,300
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $46,590 | $22.40 | |
| 25th | $56,390 | $27.11 | |
| Median | $79,020 | $37.99 | |
| 75th | $97,240 | $46.75 | |
| 90th | $117,300 | $56.41 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks.
| Napa, CA | $78,960 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $73,570 |
| Salinas, CA | $72,440 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $69,990 |
| San Francisco, CA | $68,970 |
| 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 Jose
Same field, median yearly pay.
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $55,520 |
| Cook | $51,880 |
| Cook | $47,220 |
| Cook | $47,170 |
| Food Server | $46,210 |
| Cook | $45,990 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $45,580 |
| Cook | $44,740 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $44,720 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $44,570 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chef and head cook make an hour in San Jose?
The median hourly pay in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $37.99 ($79,020 a year).
Do chef and head cooks make more in San Jose than the national average?
Yes: $79,020 against $62,470 nationally, 26% more.
How does San Jose compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $64,500, so San Jose pays 23% more.
Where does San Jose rank for chef and head cook pay?
7 of 340 metro areas with data.
How much does a chef and head cook make starting out in San Jose?
The lowest-paid 10% make $46,590 or less a year; the top 10% make $117,300 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.