Cooks, All Other Salary in San Diego, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA

Median annual salary $36,970 +2.1% vs national
Median hourly $17.77
10th percentile $33,280
90th percentile $50,520
Employed locally 310
National median $36,210

Compare Cooks, All Other salary & buying power

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Cooks, All Other
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San Diego, CA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $33,280
    25th
    $34,380
    50th (median)
    $36,970
    75th
    $46,770
    90th
    $50,520

    San Diego economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.30% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $102,285 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, All Other salary vs area income 36% Median Cooks, All Other salary is 64% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, All Other

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Massachusetts $67,140
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $56,870
    Washington $54,460
    South Florida nonmetropolitan area $53,950
    Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $53,580
    Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $51,690

    Nearby metros — Cooks, All Other salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $47,100
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $43,890
    Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $43,260
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $41,600
    San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA $41,030
    California $39,430

    Related occupations in San Diego, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $35,860
    Waiters and Waitresses $35,060
    Cooks, Restaurant $45,040
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $44,990
    Cooks, Fast Food $35,730
    Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers $35,270

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, All Other make per hour in San Diego?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, All Other in San Diego, CA is $17.77, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $24.56 or more per hour.

    Is San Diego above or below average for Cooks, All Other salaries?

    The median Cooks, All Other salary in San Diego, CA is 2.1% above the national median of $36,210. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, All Other in San Diego?

    Entry-level Cooks, All Other (10th percentile) earn around $33,280 per year in San Diego, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $34,380.