How much does a cook make in San Diego?
$46,440a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $22.33 an hour or $3,870 a month.
- Hourly
- $22.33
- Vs. national median
- +24%
- Rank among cities
- 9 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 15,670
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $37,840Median: $46,440Highest 10%: $51,820
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,840 | $18.19 | |
| 25th | $40,330 | $19.39 | |
| Median | $46,440 | $22.33 | |
| 75th | $47,560 | $22.87 | |
| 90th | $51,820 | $24.91 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Napa, CA | $47,320 |
| San Jose, CA | $47,170 |
| San Francisco, CA | $46,030 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $45,720 |
| Salinas, CA | $44,930 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $44,560 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $44,460 |
| Sacramento, CA | $44,230 |
| Vallejo, CA | $44,100 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $43,340 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $43,220 |
| Riverside, CA | $42,450 |
| Oxnard, CA | $42,060 |
| Modesto, CA | $41,910 |
| Stockton, CA | $41,170 |
| Yuba City, CA | $39,160 |
| Hanford, CA | $38,810 |
| Merced, CA | $38,480 |
| Fresno, CA | $38,260 |
| Redding, CA | $38,200 |
| Chico, CA | $37,980 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $37,800 |
| El Centro, CA | $37,710 |
| Visalia, CA | $37,090 |
Related jobs in San Diego
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $60,600 |
| Cook | $47,100 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $46,980 |
| 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 $22.33 ($46,440 a year).
Do cooks make more in San Diego than the national average?
Yes: $46,440 against $37,390 nationally, 24% more.
How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $44,880, so San Diego pays 3% more.
Where does San Diego rank for cook pay?
9 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% make $37,840 or less a year; the top 10% make $51,820 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.