How much does a cook make in San Francisco?
$49,140a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area. That is $23.63 an hour or $4,095 a month.
- Hourly
- $23.63
- Vs. national median
- +31%
- Rank among cities
- 9 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 4,280
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $40,920Median: $49,140Highest 10%: $63,710
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $40,920 | $19.67 | |
| 25th | $45,910 | $22.07 | |
| Median | $49,140 | $23.63 | |
| 75th | $57,020 | $27.41 | |
| 90th | $63,710 | $30.63 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| San Jose, CA | $51,880 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $48,210 |
| Napa, CA | $48,060 |
| Hanford, CA | $47,310 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $47,260 |
| Vallejo, CA | $47,130 |
| San Diego, CA | $47,100 |
| 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 Francisco
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $68,970 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $51,520 |
| 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 cook make an hour in San Francisco?
The median hourly pay in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $23.63 ($49,140 a year).
Do cooks make more in San Francisco than the national average?
Yes: $49,140 against $37,450 nationally, 31% more.
How does San Francisco compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $46,390, so San Francisco pays 6% more.
Where does San Francisco rank for cook pay?
9 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% make $40,920 or less a year; the top 10% make $63,710 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.