How much does a cook make in San Francisco?
$45,790a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area. That is $22.01 an hour or $3,816 a month.
- Hourly
- $22.01
- Vs. national median
- +28%
- Rank among cities
- 7 of 237
- Jobs in the area
- 4,430
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $39,380Median: $45,790Highest 10%: $51,670
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $39,380 | $18.93 | |
| 25th | $43,610 | $20.97 | |
| Median | $45,790 | $22.01 | |
| 75th | $47,150 | $22.67 | |
| 90th | $51,670 | $24.84 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Santa Rosa, CA | $46,450 |
| San Jose, CA | $45,990 |
| Vallejo, CA | $45,360 |
| Napa, CA | $43,930 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $43,680 |
| Oxnard, CA | $42,990 |
| Yuba City, CA | $42,400 |
| Salinas, CA | $40,550 |
| Hanford, CA | $39,300 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $39,140 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $38,490 |
| Sacramento, CA | $38,480 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $38,340 |
| Fresno, CA | $38,280 |
| Modesto, CA | $38,260 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $38,020 |
| Visalia, CA | $37,940 |
| Chico, CA | $37,700 |
| Stockton, CA | $37,490 |
| San Diego, CA | $37,300 |
| Redding, CA | $36,730 |
| Merced, CA | $36,240 |
| Riverside, CA | $35,610 |
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 | $46,030 |
| 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 $22.01 ($45,790 a year).
Do cooks make more in San Francisco than the national average?
Yes: $45,790 against $35,880 nationally, 28% more.
How does San Francisco compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $42,930, so San Francisco pays 7% more.
Where does San Francisco rank for cook pay?
7 of 237 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% make $39,380 or less a year; the top 10% make $51,670 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.