How much does a cook make in Santa Maria?
$43,340a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area. That is $20.84 an hour or $3,612 a month.
- Hourly
- $20.84
- Vs. national median
- +16%
- Rank among cities
- 37 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 2,300
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $36,500Median: $43,340Highest 10%: $50,200
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,500 | $17.55 | |
| 25th | $37,680 | $18.12 | |
| Median | $43,340 | $20.84 | |
| 75th | $46,700 | $22.45 | |
| 90th | $50,200 | $24.13 |
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 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $44,560 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $44,460 |
| Sacramento, CA | $44,230 |
| Vallejo, CA | $44,100 |
| 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 Maria
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $65,060 |
| Cook | $48,210 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $47,320 |
| 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 $20.84 ($43,340 a year).
Do cooks make more in Santa Maria than the national average?
Yes: $43,340 against $37,390 nationally, 16% more.
How does Santa Maria compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $44,880, so Santa Maria pays 3% less.
Where does Santa Maria rank for cook pay?
37 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Santa Maria?
The lowest-paid 10% make $36,500 or less a year; the top 10% make $50,200 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.