How much does a food preparation and serving related worker make in San Jose?
Median yearly pay for food preparation and serving related workers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area. That is $21.50 an hour or $3,727 a month.
- Hourly
- $21.50
- Vs. national median
- +25%
- Rank among cities
- 5 of 171
- Jobs in the area
- 1,430
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $39,650 | $19.06 | |
| 25th | $42,080 | $20.23 | |
| Median | $44,720 | $21.50 | |
| 75th | $46,360 | $22.29 | |
| 90th | $50,890 | $24.47 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for food preparation and serving related workers.
| San Francisco, CA | $41,970 |
| Napa, CA | $39,080 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $38,910 |
| Redding, CA | $38,770 |
| Fresno, CA | $37,760 |
| Vallejo, CA | $37,330 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $36,810 |
| Salinas, CA | $36,440 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $36,360 |
| Sacramento, CA | $36,350 |
| San Diego, CA | $36,330 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $36,120 |
| Modesto, CA | $35,760 |
| Stockton, CA | $35,690 |
| Oxnard, CA | $35,490 |
| Visalia, CA | $35,350 |
| Riverside, CA | $35,260 |
| Chico, CA | $34,950 |
| Merced, CA | $34,720 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $34,560 |
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 |
| Cook | $44,740 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $44,570 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation and serving related worker make an hour in San Jose?
The median hourly pay in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $21.50 ($44,720 a year).
Do food preparation and serving related workers make more in San Jose than the national average?
Yes: $44,720 against $35,840 nationally, 25% more.
How does San Jose compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $36,910, so San Jose pays 21% more.
Where does San Jose rank for food preparation and serving related worker pay?
5 of 171 metro areas with data.
How much does a food preparation and serving related worker make starting out in San Jose?
The lowest-paid 10% make $39,650 or less a year; the top 10% make $50,890 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.