How much does a cook make in Santa Maria?
$38,340a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area. That is $18.43 an hour or $3,195 a month.
- Hourly
- $18.43
- Vs. national median
- +7%
- Rank among cities
- 39 of 237
- Jobs in the area
- 360
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $35,550Median: $38,340Highest 10%: $46,900
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,550 | $17.09 | |
| 25th | $35,740 | $17.18 | |
| Median | $38,340 | $18.43 | |
| 75th | $44,460 | $21.38 | |
| 90th | $46,900 | $22.55 |
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 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $39,140 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $38,490 |
| Sacramento, CA | $38,480 |
| 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 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 |
| Cook | $43,340 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $42,940 |
| Cook | $42,700 |
| Food Server | $38,740 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $38,470 |
| 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 $18.43 ($38,340 a year).
Do cooks make more in Santa Maria than the national average?
Yes: $38,340 against $35,880 nationally, 7% more.
How does Santa Maria compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $42,930, so Santa Maria pays 11% less.
Where does Santa Maria rank for cook pay?
39 of 237 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Santa Maria?
The lowest-paid 10% make $35,550 or less a year; the top 10% make $46,900 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.