How much does a cook make in Santa Maria?
$42,700a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area. That is $20.53 an hour or $3,558 a month.
- Hourly
- $20.53
- Vs. national median
- +38%
- Rank among cities
- 9 of 308
- Jobs in the area
- 1,430
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $36,680Median: $42,700Highest 10%: $44,290
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,680 | $17.63 | |
| 25th | $39,920 | $19.19 | |
| Median | $42,700 | $20.53 | |
| 75th | $43,780 | $21.05 | |
| 90th | $44,290 | $21.29 |
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 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $43,630 |
| Salinas, CA | $43,120 |
| 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 Maria
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $65,060 |
| Cook | $48,210 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $47,320 |
| Cook | $43,340 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $42,940 |
| Food Server | $38,740 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $38,470 |
| Cook | $38,340 |
| Dishwasher | $37,290 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $36,360 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in Santa Maria?
The median hourly pay in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area is $20.53 ($42,700 a year).
Do cooks make more in Santa Maria than the national average?
Yes: $42,700 against $30,890 nationally, 38% more.
How does Santa Maria compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $42,050, so Santa Maria pays 2% more.
Where does Santa Maria rank for cook pay?
9 of 308 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Santa Maria?
The lowest-paid 10% make $36,680 or less a year; the top 10% make $44,290 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.