How much does a cook make in San Francisco?
$42,860a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area. That is $20.61 an hour or $3,572 a month.
- Hourly
- $20.61
- Vs. national median
- +14%
- Rank among cities
- 13 of 63
- Jobs in the area
- 1,120
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $42,860Median: $42,860Highest 10%: $57,630
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $42,860 | $20.61 | |
| 25th | $42,860 | $20.61 | |
| Median | $42,860 | $20.61 | |
| 75th | $45,550 | $21.90 | |
| 90th | $57,630 | $27.71 |
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 |
| Salinas, CA | $39,640 |
| Sacramento, CA | $38,980 |
| San Diego, CA | $38,870 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $38,850 |
| Riverside, CA | $37,040 |
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 |
| Cook | $45,790 |
| Food Server | $44,710 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $43,870 |
| 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 $20.61 ($42,860 a year).
Do cooks make more in San Francisco than the national average?
Yes: $42,860 against $37,690 nationally, 14% more.
How does San Francisco compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $42,860, so San Francisco pays 0% more.
Where does San Francisco rank for cook pay?
13 of 63 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% make $42,860 or less a year; the top 10% make $57,630 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.