How much does a cook make in San Diego?
$47,100a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $22.64 an hour or $3,925 a month.
- Hourly
- $22.64
- Vs. national median
- +26%
- Rank among cities
- 22 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 3,070
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $38,210Median: $47,100Highest 10%: $59,280
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,210 | $18.37 | |
| 25th | $42,430 | $20.40 | |
| Median | $47,100 | $22.64 | |
| 75th | $52,800 | $25.38 | |
| 90th | $59,280 | $28.50 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| San Jose, CA | $51,880 |
| San Francisco, CA | $49,140 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $48,210 |
| Napa, CA | $48,060 |
| Hanford, CA | $47,310 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $47,260 |
| Vallejo, CA | $47,130 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $46,850 |
| Salinas, CA | $46,820 |
| Modesto, CA | $45,480 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $45,400 |
| Sacramento, CA | $45,020 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $44,970 |
| Oxnard, CA | $44,570 |
| Riverside, CA | $44,470 |
| Merced, CA | $44,410 |
| Redding, CA | $44,250 |
| Stockton, CA | $43,950 |
| Yuba City, CA | $43,940 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $43,910 |
| Fresno, CA | $42,580 |
| Visalia, CA | $41,820 |
| Chico, CA | $41,380 |
| El Centro, CA | $40,980 |
Related jobs in San Diego
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $60,600 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $46,980 |
| Cook | $46,440 |
| Cook | $42,450 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $42,190 |
| Cook | $38,870 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $38,780 |
| Dishwasher | $38,530 |
| Food Server | $38,260 |
| Cook | $37,300 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in San Diego?
The median hourly pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $22.64 ($47,100 a year).
Do cooks make more in San Diego than the national average?
Yes: $47,100 against $37,450 nationally, 26% more.
How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $46,390, so San Diego pays 2% more.
Where does San Diego rank for cook pay?
22 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% make $38,210 or less a year; the top 10% make $59,280 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.