How much does a cook make in San Diego?
$38,870a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $18.69 an hour or $3,239 a month.
- Hourly
- $18.69
- Vs. national median
- +3%
- Rank among cities
- 27 of 63
- Jobs in the area
- 290
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $37,380Median: $38,870Highest 10%: $51,090
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,380 | $17.97 | |
| 25th | $38,480 | $18.50 | |
| Median | $38,870 | $18.69 | |
| 75th | $45,020 | $21.64 | |
| 90th | $51,090 | $24.56 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Santa Rosa, CA | $47,840 |
| San Jose, CA | $44,740 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $43,680 |
| San Francisco, CA | $42,860 |
| Salinas, CA | $39,640 |
| Sacramento, CA | $38,980 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $38,850 |
| Riverside, CA | $37,040 |
Related jobs in San Diego
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $60,600 |
| Cook | $47,100 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $46,980 |
| Cook | $46,440 |
| Cook | $42,450 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $42,190 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $38,780 |
| Dishwasher | $38,530 |
| Food Server | $38,260 |
| Cook | $37,300 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in San Diego?
The median hourly pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $18.69 ($38,870 a year).
Do cooks make more in San Diego than the national average?
Yes: $38,870 against $37,690 nationally, 3% more.
How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $42,860, so San Diego pays 9% less.
Where does San Diego rank for cook pay?
27 of 63 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% make $37,380 or less a year; the top 10% make $51,090 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.