Cooks, Fast Food Salary in Santa Cruz, CA

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

Median annual salary $37,670 +24.9% vs national
Median hourly $18.11
10th percentile $35,160
90th percentile $44,420
Employed locally 780
National median $30,160

Compare Cooks, Fast Food salary & buying power

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Cooks, Fast Food
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Santa Cruz, CA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $35,160
    25th
    $35,760
    50th (median)
    $37,670
    75th
    $43,680
    90th
    $44,420

    Santa Cruz economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $109,266 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Fast Food salary vs area income 34% Median Cooks, Fast Food salary is 66% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Fast Food

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $41,980
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $41,800
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $40,580
    Hawaii $40,300
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $39,260
    Napa, CA $39,210

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Fast Food salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $41,980
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $41,800
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $39,260
    Napa, CA $39,210
    Vallejo, CA $39,110
    Salinas, CA $37,960

    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
    Food Preparation Workers $37,010
    Bartenders $35,440

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Fast Food make per hour in Santa Cruz?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Santa Cruz, CA is $18.11, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $21.44 or more per hour.

    Is Santa Cruz above or below average for Cooks, Fast Food salaries?

    The median Cooks, Fast Food salary in Santa Cruz, CA is 24.9% above the national median of $30,160. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Fast Food in Santa Cruz?

    Entry-level Cooks, Fast Food (10th percentile) earn around $35,160 per year in Santa Cruz, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $35,760.