How much does a cook make in Santa Cruz?
$46,850a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area. That is $22.52 an hour or $3,904 a month.
- Hourly
- $22.52
- Vs. national median
- +25%
- Rank among cities
- 26 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 250
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $37,720Median: $46,850Highest 10%: $58,820
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,720 | $18.13 | |
| 25th | $43,450 | $20.89 | |
| Median | $46,850 | $22.52 | |
| 75th | $56,900 | $27.36 | |
| 90th | $58,820 | $28.28 |
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 |
| San Diego, CA | $47,100 |
| 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 Santa Cruz
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $59,190 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $48,220 |
| 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 cook make an hour in Santa Cruz?
The median hourly pay in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $22.52 ($46,850 a year).
Do cooks make more in Santa Cruz than the national average?
Yes: $46,850 against $37,450 nationally, 25% more.
How does Santa Cruz compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $46,390, so Santa Cruz pays 1% more.
Where does Santa Cruz rank for cook pay?
26 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% make $37,720 or less a year; the top 10% make $58,820 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.