Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Santa Maria, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA

Median annual salary $72,220 +18.4% vs national
Median hourly $34.72
10th percentile $49,110
90th percentile $103,630
Employed locally 390
National median $60,990

Compare Chefs and Head Cooks salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Santa Maria, CA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Chefs and Head Cooks
in
Santa Maria, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $49,110
    25th
    $61,890
    50th (median)
    $72,220
    75th
    $82,430
    90th
    $103,630

    Santa Maria economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $95,977 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 75% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 25% 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
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $71,600
    Tuscaloosa, AL $69,560

    Related occupations in Santa Maria, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $36,960
    Waiters and Waitresses $34,340
    Cooks, Restaurant $43,320
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $46,290
    Cooks, Fast Food $37,010
    Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers $34,270

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Santa Maria, CA is $34.72, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $48.50 or more per hour.

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

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Santa Maria, CA is 18.4% 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 Maria?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $49,110 per year in Santa Maria, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $61,890.