How much does a cook make in San Jose?
$45,990a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area. That is $22.11 an hour or $3,833 a month.
- Hourly
- $22.11
- Vs. national median
- +28%
- Rank among cities
- 6 of 237
- Jobs in the area
- 1,660
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $40,250Median: $45,990Highest 10%: $50,890
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $40,250 | $19.35 | |
| 25th | $43,010 | $20.68 | |
| Median | $45,990 | $22.11 | |
| 75th | $46,990 | $22.59 | |
| 90th | $50,890 | $24.47 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Santa Rosa, CA | $46,450 |
| San Francisco, CA | $45,790 |
| 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 Jose
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $79,020 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $55,520 |
| Cook | $51,880 |
| Cook | $47,220 |
| Cook | $47,170 |
| Food Server | $46,210 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $45,580 |
| Cook | $44,740 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $44,720 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $44,570 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in San Jose?
The median hourly pay in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $22.11 ($45,990 a year).
Do cooks make more in San Jose than the national average?
Yes: $45,990 against $35,880 nationally, 28% more.
How does San Jose compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $42,930, so San Jose pays 7% more.
Where does San Jose rank for cook pay?
6 of 237 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in San Jose?
The lowest-paid 10% make $40,250 or less a year; the top 10% make $50,890 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.