Cooks, Short Order Salary in San Diego, CA

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

Median annual salary $35,620 +0% vs national
Median hourly $17.12
10th percentile $34,560
90th percentile $45,080
Employed locally 2,430
National median $35,620

Compare Cooks, Short Order salary & buying power

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Cooks, Short Order
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San Diego, CA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $34,560
    25th
    $35,050
    50th (median)
    $35,620
    75th
    $39,910
    90th
    $45,080

    San Diego economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.30% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $102,285 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Short Order salary vs area income 35% Median Cooks, Short Order salary is 65% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Short Order

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $48,970
    Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $48,700
    Barnstable Town, MA $46,830
    Arizona $46,240
    Washington $46,010
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $46,010

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Short Order salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $44,270
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $43,610
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $43,570
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $42,310
    Napa, CA $39,650
    Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $39,010

    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, Short Order make per hour in San Diego?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Short Order in San Diego, CA is $17.12, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $23.10 or more per hour.

    Is San Diego above or below average for Cooks, Short Order salaries?

    The median Cooks, Short Order salary in San Diego, CA is 0% above the national median of $35,620. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Short Order in San Diego?

    Entry-level Cooks, Short Order (10th percentile) earn around $34,560 per year in San Diego, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $35,050.