How much does a cook make in San Jose?
$51,880a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area. That is $24.94 an hour or $4,323 a month.
- Hourly
- $24.94
- Vs. national median
- +39%
- Rank among cities
- 2 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 2,640
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $45,660Median: $51,880Highest 10%: $67,750
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $45,660 | $21.95 | |
| 25th | $48,630 | $23.38 | |
| Median | $51,880 | $24.94 | |
| 75th | $58,720 | $28.23 | |
| 90th | $67,750 | $32.57 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| 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 |
| 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 Jose
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $79,020 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $55,520 |
| 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 cook make an hour in San Jose?
The median hourly pay in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $24.94 ($51,880 a year).
Do cooks make more in San Jose than the national average?
Yes: $51,880 against $37,450 nationally, 39% more.
How does San Jose compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $46,390, so San Jose pays 12% more.
Where does San Jose rank for cook pay?
2 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in San Jose?
The lowest-paid 10% make $45,660 or less a year; the top 10% make $67,750 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.