Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Santa Cruz, CA

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

Median annual salary $46,000 +26.2% vs national
Median hourly $22.12
10th percentile $33,700
90th percentile $61,080
Employed locally 210
National median $36,450

Compare Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary & buying power

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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
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Santa Cruz, CA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $33,700
    25th
    $39,020
    50th (median)
    $46,000
    75th
    $51,930
    90th
    $61,080

    Santa Cruz economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $109,266 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary vs area income 42% Median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary is 58% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $54,840
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $50,290
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $50,150
    Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $49,850
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $48,940
    Washington $48,260

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $48,940
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $47,920
    Hanford-Corcoran, CA $47,920
    Napa, CA $47,910
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $46,910
    Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $46,760

    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 Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria make per hour in Santa Cruz?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Santa Cruz, CA is $22.12, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $28.28 or more per hour.

    Is Santa Cruz above or below average for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salaries?

    The median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Santa Cruz, CA is 26.2% above the national median of $36,450. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Santa Cruz?

    Entry-level Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (10th percentile) earn around $33,700 per year in Santa Cruz, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $39,020.