How much does a cook make in Santa Cruz?
$43,630a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area. That is $20.98 an hour or $3,636 a month.
- Hourly
- $20.98
- Vs. national median
- +41%
- Rank among cities
- 7 of 308
- Jobs in the area
- 710
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $36,930Median: $43,630Highest 10%: $44,590
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,930 | $17.75 | |
| 25th | $37,760 | $18.15 | |
| Median | $43,630 | $20.98 | |
| 75th | $44,160 | $21.23 | |
| 90th | $44,590 | $21.44 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| San Jose, CA | $47,220 |
| San Francisco, CA | $46,670 |
| Napa, CA | $45,300 |
| Vallejo, CA | $44,450 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $43,840 |
| 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 Santa Cruz
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $59,190 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $48,220 |
| Cook | $46,850 |
| Cook | $44,560 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $43,400 |
| Cook | $39,140 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $39,110 |
| Food Server | $37,860 |
| Dishwasher | $37,380 |
| Bartender | $36,100 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in Santa Cruz?
The median hourly pay in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $20.98 ($43,630 a year).
Do cooks make more in Santa Cruz than the national average?
Yes: $43,630 against $30,890 nationally, 41% more.
How does Santa Cruz compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $42,050, so Santa Cruz pays 4% more.
Where does Santa Cruz rank for cook pay?
7 of 308 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% make $36,930 or less a year; the top 10% make $44,590 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.