How much does a cook make in San Francisco?
$46,670a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area. That is $22.44 an hour or $3,889 a month.
- Hourly
- $22.44
- Vs. national median
- +51%
- Rank among cities
- 2 of 308
- Jobs in the area
- 10,160
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $38,350Median: $46,670Highest 10%: $54,820
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,350 | $18.44 | |
| 25th | $43,140 | $20.74 | |
| Median | $46,670 | $22.44 | |
| 75th | $48,750 | $23.44 | |
| 90th | $54,820 | $26.36 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| San Jose, CA | $47,220 |
| Napa, CA | $45,300 |
| Vallejo, CA | $44,450 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $43,840 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $43,630 |
| Salinas, CA | $43,120 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $42,700 |
| Oxnard, CA | $42,530 |
| Modesto, CA | $42,510 |
| Riverside, CA | $42,480 |
| San Diego, CA | $42,450 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $42,390 |
| Yuba City, CA | $42,320 |
| Sacramento, CA | $42,210 |
| Stockton, CA | $41,600 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $41,480 |
| Hanford, CA | $41,280 |
| Merced, CA | $40,430 |
| Chico, CA | $40,340 |
| El Centro, CA | $40,230 |
| Redding, CA | $39,920 |
| Visalia, CA | $39,750 |
| Fresno, CA | $39,620 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $38,000 |
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 | $46,030 |
| Cook | $45,790 |
| Food Server | $44,710 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $43,870 |
| Cook | $42,860 |
| 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 $22.44 ($46,670 a year).
Do cooks make more in San Francisco than the national average?
Yes: $46,670 against $30,890 nationally, 51% more.
How does San Francisco compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $42,050, so San Francisco pays 11% more.
Where does San Francisco rank for cook pay?
2 of 308 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% make $38,350 or less a year; the top 10% make $54,820 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.