How much does a chef and head cook make in Santa Maria?
$65,060a year
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area. That is $31.28 an hour or $5,422 a month.
- Hourly
- $31.28
- Vs. national median
- +4%
- Rank among cities
- 66 of 340
- Jobs in the area
- 520
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $38,280Median: $65,060Highest 10%: $100,900
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,280 | $18.40 | |
| 25th | $45,520 | $21.88 | |
| Median | $65,060 | $31.28 | |
| 75th | $80,400 | $38.65 | |
| 90th | $100,900 | $48.50 |
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 |
| 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 Santa Maria
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Cook | $48,210 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $47,320 |
| Cook | $43,340 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $42,940 |
| Cook | $42,700 |
| Food Server | $38,740 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $38,470 |
| Cook | $38,340 |
| Dishwasher | $37,290 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $36,360 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chef and head cook make an hour in Santa Maria?
The median hourly pay in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area is $31.28 ($65,060 a year).
Do chef and head cooks make more in Santa Maria than the national average?
Yes: $65,060 against $62,470 nationally, 4% more.
How does Santa Maria compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $64,500, so Santa Maria pays 1% more.
Where does Santa Maria rank for chef and head cook pay?
66 of 340 metro areas with data.
How much does a chef and head cook make starting out in Santa Maria?
The lowest-paid 10% make $38,280 or less a year; the top 10% make $100,900 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.