Cooks, Fast Food pay in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara
In Santa Maria-Santa Barbara (CA), the median pay for cooks, fast food is $20.53 an hour ($42,700 a year). About 1,430 people work in this job there.
That is 38% higher than the U.S. median ($30,890). It is 2% higher than the California median ($42,050).
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara (CA)
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $17.64 | $36,680 |
| 25% of workers | $19.19 | $39,920 |
| Half of workers (median) | $20.53 | $42,700 |
| 75% of workers | $21.05 | $43,780 |
| 90% of workers | $21.29 | $44,290 |
Cooks, Fast Food pay in California metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $47,220 | 4,790 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $46,670 | 10,160 |
| Napa | $45,300 | 370 |
| Vallejo | $44,450 | 1,150 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $43,840 | 1,050 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $43,630 | 710 |
| Salinas | $43,120 | 1,100 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara (this page) | $42,700 | 1,430 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $42,530 | 2,520 |
| Modesto | $42,510 | 1,620 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $42,480 | 16,910 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $42,450 | 10,630 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $42,390 | 850 |
| Yuba City | $42,320 | 390 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $42,210 | 8,020 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $41,600 | 2,260 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $41,480 | 2,450 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $41,280 | 450 |
| Merced | $40,430 | 660 |
| Chico | $40,340 | 580 |
| El Centro | $40,230 | 330 |
| Redding | $39,920 | 470 |
| Visalia | $39,750 | 1,410 |
| Fresno | $39,620 | 3,910 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $38,000 | 48,440 |
California unemployment rate: 5.1% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for cooks, fast food
- Typical education to start: No formal educational credential (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: None (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Short-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +0.6% over ten years, little or no change · about 86,400 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara (CA)
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $42,940 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $43,340 |
| Food Preparation Workers | $38,470 |
Other job titles for this job
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.