How much does a chef and head cook make in Santa Cruz?
$59,190a year
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area. That is $28.46 an hour or $4,933 a month.
- Hourly
- $28.46
- Vs. national median
- -5%
- Rank among cities
- 172 of 340
- Jobs in the area
- 200
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $39,740Median: $59,190Highest 10%: $96,130
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $39,740 | $19.11 | |
| 25th | $42,700 | $20.53 | |
| Median | $59,190 | $28.46 | |
| 75th | $76,980 | $37.01 | |
| 90th | $96,130 | $46.22 |
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 |
| 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 |
| 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 Santa Cruz
Same field, median yearly pay.
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $48,220 |
| Cook | $46,850 |
| Cook | $44,560 |
| Cook | $43,630 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $43,400 |
| Cook | $39,140 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $39,110 |
| Food Server | $37,860 |
| Dishwasher | $37,380 |
| Bartender | $36,100 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chef and head cook make an hour in Santa Cruz?
The median hourly pay in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $28.46 ($59,190 a year).
Do chef and head cooks make more in Santa Cruz than the national average?
No: $59,190 against $62,470 nationally, 5% less.
How does Santa Cruz compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $64,500, so Santa Cruz pays 8% less.
Where does Santa Cruz rank for chef and head cook pay?
172 of 340 metro areas with data.
How much does a chef and head cook make starting out in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% make $39,740 or less a year; the top 10% make $96,130 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.