Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Santa Cruz, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA

Median annual salary $64,560 +5.9% vs national
Median hourly $31.04
10th percentile $43,470
90th percentile $93,290
Employed locally 150
National median $60,990

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Chefs and Head Cooks
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Santa Cruz, CA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $43,470
    25th
    $52,250
    50th (median)
    $64,560
    75th
    $75,180
    90th
    $93,290

    Santa Cruz economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $109,266 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 59% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 41% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Chefs and Head Cooks

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $87,410
    Morgantown, WV $87,280
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $85,370
    Terre Haute, IN $83,880
    East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area $81,720
    Hawaii $81,200

    Nearby metros — Chefs and Head Cooks salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $78,050
    Napa, CA $76,350
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $74,640
    Salinas, CA $73,260
    Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $72,220
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $71,600

    Related occupations in Santa Cruz, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $37,300
    Waiters and Waitresses $35,270
    Cooks, Restaurant $42,460
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $46,980
    Cooks, Fast Food $37,670
    Food Preparation Workers $37,010

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make per hour in Santa Cruz?

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Santa Cruz, CA is $31.04, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $46.22 or more per hour.

    Is Santa Cruz above or below average for Chefs and Head Cooks salaries?

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Santa Cruz, CA is 5.9% above the national median of $60,990. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Chefs and Head Cooks in Santa Cruz?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $43,470 per year in Santa Cruz, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $52,250.