How much does a cook make in Santa Maria?
$48,210a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area. That is $23.18 an hour or $4,018 a month.
- Hourly
- $23.18
- Vs. national median
- +29%
- Rank among cities
- 13 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 430
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $37,530Median: $48,210Highest 10%: $58,920
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,530 | $18.04 | |
| 25th | $40,630 | $19.53 | |
| Median | $48,210 | $23.18 | |
| 75th | $57,660 | $27.72 | |
| 90th | $58,920 | $28.33 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| San Jose, CA | $51,880 |
| San Francisco, CA | $49,140 |
| 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 Santa Maria
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $65,060 |
| 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 cook make an hour in Santa Maria?
The median hourly pay in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area is $23.18 ($48,210 a year).
Do cooks make more in Santa Maria than the national average?
Yes: $48,210 against $37,450 nationally, 29% more.
How does Santa Maria compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $46,390, so Santa Maria pays 4% more.
Where does Santa Maria rank for cook pay?
13 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Santa Maria?
The lowest-paid 10% make $37,530 or less a year; the top 10% make $58,920 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.