How much does a cook make in San Jose?
$44,740a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area. That is $21.51 an hour or $3,728 a month.
- Hourly
- $21.51
- Vs. national median
- +19%
- Rank among cities
- 8 of 63
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $43,470Median: $44,740Highest 10%: $59,210
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $43,470 | $20.90 | |
| 25th | $44,740 | $21.51 | |
| Median | $44,740 | $21.51 | |
| 75th | $49,420 | $23.76 | |
| 90th | $59,210 | $28.47 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Santa Rosa, CA | $47,840 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $43,680 |
| San Francisco, CA | $42,860 |
| 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 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 |
| Cook | $45,990 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $45,580 |
| 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 $21.51 ($44,740 a year).
Do cooks make more in San Jose than the national average?
Yes: $44,740 against $37,690 nationally, 19% more.
How does San Jose compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $42,860, so San Jose pays 4% more.
Where does San Jose rank for cook pay?
8 of 63 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in San Jose?
The lowest-paid 10% make $43,470 or less a year; the top 10% make $59,210 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.