Cooks, Restaurant pay in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad
In San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad (CA), the median pay for cooks, restaurant is $22.33 an hour ($46,440 a year). About 15,670 people work in this job there.
That is 24% higher than the U.S. median ($37,390). It is 3% higher than the California median ($44,880).
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad (CA)
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $18.19 | $37,840 |
| 25% of workers | $19.39 | $40,330 |
| Half of workers (median) | $22.33 | $46,440 |
| 75% of workers | $22.86 | $47,560 |
| 90% of workers | $24.91 | $51,820 |
Cooks, Restaurant pay in California metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Napa | $47,320 | 1,270 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $47,170 | 8,900 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad (this page) | $46,440 | 15,670 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $46,030 | 20,540 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $45,720 | 2,340 |
| Salinas | $44,930 | 1,910 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $44,560 | 1,020 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $44,460 | 54,320 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $44,230 | 9,240 |
| Vallejo | $44,100 | 1,020 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $43,340 | 2,300 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $43,220 | 1,640 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $42,450 | 14,280 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $42,060 | 3,000 |
| Modesto | $41,910 | 1,300 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $41,170 | 1,560 |
| Yuba City | $39,160 | 400 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $38,810 | 260 |
| Merced | $38,480 | 410 |
| Fresno | $38,260 | 2,980 |
| Redding | $38,200 | 500 |
| Chico | $37,980 | 600 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $37,800 | 2,100 |
| El Centro | $37,710 | 380 |
| Visalia | $37,090 | 1,000 |
California unemployment rate: 5.1% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for cooks, restaurant
- Typical education to start: No formal educational credential (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 3 to 6 months (O*NET)
- Experience usually needed to start: Less than 5 years (BLS)
- Training on the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +12.1% over ten years, much faster than average · about 218,600 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad (CA)
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Cooks, Fast Food | $42,450 |
| Food Preparation Workers | $38,780 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $60,600 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $47,100 |
| Bakers | $43,080 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $37,300 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $46,790 |
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.