How much does a cook make in San Francisco?
$46,030a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area. That is $22.13 an hour or $3,836 a month.
- Hourly
- $22.13
- Vs. national median
- +23%
- Rank among cities
- 10 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 20,540
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $40,720Median: $46,030Highest 10%: $58,940
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $40,720 | $19.58 | |
| 25th | $44,340 | $21.32 | |
| Median | $46,030 | $22.13 | |
| 75th | $49,360 | $23.73 | |
| 90th | $58,940 | $28.34 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Napa, CA | $47,320 |
| San Jose, CA | $47,170 |
| San Diego, CA | $46,440 |
| 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 Francisco
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $68,970 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $51,520 |
| Cook | $49,140 |
| Cook | $46,670 |
| 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 $22.13 ($46,030 a year).
Do cooks make more in San Francisco than the national average?
Yes: $46,030 against $37,390 nationally, 23% more.
How does San Francisco compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $44,880, so San Francisco pays 3% more.
Where does San Francisco rank for cook pay?
10 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% make $40,720 or less a year; the top 10% make $58,940 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.