How much does a cook make in Santa Cruz?
$44,560a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area. That is $21.42 an hour or $3,713 a month.
- Hourly
- $21.42
- Vs. national median
- +19%
- Rank among cities
- 21 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 1,020
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $37,170Median: $44,560Highest 10%: $49,840
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,170 | $17.87 | |
| 25th | $38,360 | $18.44 | |
| Median | $44,560 | $21.42 | |
| 75th | $47,200 | $22.69 | |
| 90th | $49,840 | $23.96 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Napa, CA | $47,320 |
| San Jose, CA | $47,170 |
| San Diego, CA | $46,440 |
| San Francisco, CA | $46,030 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $45,720 |
| Salinas, CA | $44,930 |
| 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 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 | $46,850 |
| 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 $21.42 ($44,560 a year).
Do cooks make more in Santa Cruz than the national average?
Yes: $44,560 against $37,390 nationally, 19% more.
How does Santa Cruz compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $44,880, so Santa Cruz pays 1% less.
Where does Santa Cruz rank for cook pay?
21 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% make $37,170 or less a year; the top 10% make $49,840 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.