Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other Salary in Santa Cruz, CA

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

Median annual salary $35,200 +1.1% vs national
Median hourly $16.92
10th percentile $33,470
90th percentile $46,560
Employed locally 120
National median $34,830

Compare Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other salary & buying power

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Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other
in
Santa Cruz, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $33,470
    25th
    $34,190
    50th (median)
    $35,200
    75th
    $36,070
    90th
    $46,560

    Santa Cruz economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $109,266 2023 • Census ACS
    Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other salary vs area income 32% Median Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other salary is 68% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $77,840
    Hawaii $62,110
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $58,030
    Salem, OR $49,900
    Bend, OR $45,810
    Virgin Islands $43,410

    Nearby metros — Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $43,000
    Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area $39,840
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $38,960
    Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $37,900
    Napa, CA $37,790
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $37,680

    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 Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other make per hour in Santa Cruz?

    The median hourly wage for Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other in Santa Cruz, CA is $16.92, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $22.39 or more per hour.

    Is Santa Cruz above or below average for Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other salaries?

    The median Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other salary in Santa Cruz, CA is 1.1% above the national median of $34,830. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other in Santa Cruz?

    Entry-level Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other (10th percentile) earn around $33,470 per year in Santa Cruz, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $34,190.