How much does a food preparation worker make in Santa Cruz?
$39,110a year
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area. That is $18.80 an hour or $3,259 a month.
- Hourly
- $18.80
- Vs. national median
- +11%
- Rank among cities
- 16 of 393
- Jobs in the area
- 830
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $35,170Median: $39,110Highest 10%: $50,540
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,170 | $16.91 | |
| 25th | $36,810 | $17.70 | |
| Median | $39,110 | $18.80 | |
| 75th | $45,280 | $21.77 | |
| 90th | $50,540 | $24.30 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers.
| San Jose, CA | $45,580 |
| Napa, CA | $42,810 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $42,640 |
| San Francisco, CA | $41,000 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $39,770 |
| Merced, CA | $38,980 |
| Vallejo, CA | $38,840 |
| San Diego, CA | $38,780 |
| El Centro, CA | $38,610 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $38,550 |
| Sacramento, CA | $38,480 |
| Salinas, CA | $38,480 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $38,470 |
| Modesto, CA | $38,450 |
| Riverside, CA | $38,420 |
| Yuba City, CA | $37,740 |
| Fresno, CA | $37,730 |
| Oxnard, CA | $37,680 |
| Stockton, CA | $37,550 |
| Chico, CA | $37,510 |
| Hanford, CA | $37,430 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $37,090 |
| Visalia, CA | $37,020 |
| Redding, CA | $36,400 |
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 |
| Cook | $43,630 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $43,400 |
| Cook | $39,140 |
| Food Server | $37,860 |
| Dishwasher | $37,380 |
| Bartender | $36,100 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make an hour in Santa Cruz?
The median hourly pay in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $18.80 ($39,110 a year).
Do food preparation workers make more in Santa Cruz than the national average?
Yes: $39,110 against $35,320 nationally, 11% more.
How does Santa Cruz compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $39,350, so Santa Cruz pays 1% less.
Where does Santa Cruz rank for food preparation worker pay?
16 of 393 metro areas with data.
How much does a food preparation worker make starting out in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% make $35,170 or less a year; the top 10% make $50,540 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.