How much does a cook make in Santa Cruz?
$39,140a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area. That is $18.82 an hour or $3,262 a month.
- Hourly
- $18.82
- Vs. national median
- +9%
- Rank among cities
- 29 of 237
- Jobs in the area
- 210
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $36,400Median: $39,140Highest 10%: $46,120
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,400 | $17.50 | |
| 25th | $38,180 | $18.36 | |
| Median | $39,140 | $18.82 | |
| 75th | $44,460 | $21.38 | |
| 90th | $46,120 | $22.17 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Santa Rosa, CA | $46,450 |
| San Jose, CA | $45,990 |
| 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 |
| 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 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 | $44,560 |
| Cook | $43,630 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $43,400 |
| 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 $18.82 ($39,140 a year).
Do cooks make more in Santa Cruz than the national average?
Yes: $39,140 against $35,880 nationally, 9% more.
How does Santa Cruz compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $42,930, so Santa Cruz pays 9% less.
Where does Santa Cruz rank for cook pay?
29 of 237 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% make $36,400 or less a year; the top 10% make $46,120 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.