Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Santa Rosa, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA

Median annual salary $65,000 +6.6% vs national
Median hourly $31.25
10th percentile $38,480
90th percentile $96,470
Employed locally 450
National median $60,990

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Chefs and Head Cooks
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Santa Rosa, CA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $38,480
    25th
    $51,200
    50th (median)
    $65,000
    75th
    $78,000
    90th
    $96,470

    Santa Rosa economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $102,840 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 63% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 37% 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 Rosa, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $38,090
    Waiters and Waitresses $36,310
    Cooks, Restaurant $45,020
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $48,560
    Food Preparation Workers $40,810
    Dishwashers $37,980

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Santa Rosa, CA is $31.25, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $49.85 or more per hour.

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

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Santa Rosa, CA is 6.6% 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 Rosa?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $38,480 per year in Santa Rosa, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $51,200.