SOC 35-2019 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, All Other — San Jose
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA · 8 metro areas compared
In San Jose, CA the median wage for Cooks, All Other is $44,740 a year, which is 18.7% higher than the national figure of $37,690.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In San Jose, CA the median wage for Cooks, All Other is $44,740 a year, which is 18.7% higher than the national figure of $37,690. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $44,740 and $49,420. The lowest tenth earn under $43,470, while the highest tenth earn more than $59,210.
Within the state, Santa Rosa records the highest median at $47,840. Of the 574 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 542nd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $43,470 | +15.3% |
| 25th | $44,740 | +18.7% |
| Median (50th) | $44,740 | +18.7% |
| 75th | $49,420 | +31.1% |
| 90th | $59,210 | +57.1% |
| Mean | $48,760 | +29.4% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Rosa | $47,840 | 180 | |
| 2 | San Luis Obispo | $43,680 | 50 | |
| 3 | San Francisco | $42,860 | 1,120 | |
| 4 | Salinas | $39,640 | 70 | |
| 5 | Sacramento | $38,980 | 190 | |
| 6 | San Diego | $38,870 | 290 | |
| 7 | Los Angeles | $38,850 | 1,040 | |
| 8 | Riverside | $37,040 | — |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in San Jose run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $44,740 buys what $40,416 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 7.2% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$44,740as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$40,416US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $44,740 a year, 18.7% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $43,470 to $59,210 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Santa Rosa, at $47,840.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, All Other in San Jose, CA?
The median annual wage is $44,740, or $21.51 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 $37,690, so pay in San Jose, CA is 18.7% higher. 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 San Jose, CA earns more than $59,210 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $43,470 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 Santa Rosa, at $47,840 per year.
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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