SOC 35-1011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chefs and Head Cooks — Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Santa Cruz, CA is $59,190 per year, close to the national median of $62,470 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Santa Cruz, CA is $59,190 per year, close to the national median of $62,470 for the same occupation. Half of workers earn between $42,700 and $76,980. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $39,740 and the ninetieth at $96,130.
Employment stands at 200, or 2.0 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, San Jose records the highest median at $79,020. Of the 328 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 205th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $39,740 | −36.4% |
| 25th | $42,700 | −31.6% |
| Median (50th) | $59,190 | −5.3% |
| 75th | $76,980 | +23.2% |
| 90th | $96,130 | +53.9% |
| Mean | $62,350 | −0.2% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose | $79,020 | 1,280 | |
| 2 | Napa | $78,960 | 300 | |
| 3 | Santa Rosa | $73,570 | 460 | |
| 4 | Salinas | $72,440 | 360 | |
| 5 | Los Angeles | $69,990 | 11,430 | |
| 6 | San Francisco | $68,970 | 5,340 | |
| 7 | Santa Maria | $65,060 | 520 | |
| 8 | Riverside | $64,480 | 2,770 | |
| 9 | Vallejo | $63,230 | 170 | |
| 10 | Oxnard | $62,620 | 480 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Santa Cruz run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $59,190 buys what $53,469 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 14.4% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$59,190as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$53,469US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $59,190 a year, 5.3% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $39,740 to $96,130 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 200 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Jose, at $79,020.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Santa Cruz, CA?
The median annual wage is $59,190, or $28.46 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $62,470, so pay in Santa Cruz, CA is 5.3% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Santa Cruz, CA earns more than $96,130 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $39,740 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in San Jose, at $79,020 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 200 jobs in this occupation in Santa Cruz, CA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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