Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
Chefs and Head Cooks in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA make a median of $71,600 a year, or about $34.42 an hour. The range runs from $43K at the entry level to $119K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 115.61), so that salary is closer to $61,932 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $3,604/month — about 77.1% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $72K get you in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont’s Regional Price Parity (115.61). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About chefs and head cooks
Sponsored links — AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
Entry-level chefs and head cooks (10th percentile) start around $43K. Mid-career wages sit at $72K. Top earners bring in $119K or more, a $76K spread from bottom to top.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $81K | +33% | 830 |
| Rhode Island | $79K | +30% | 700 |
| North Dakota | $77K | +26% | 90 |
| District of Columbia | $74K | +21% | 1,940 |
| Massachusetts | $71K | +17% | 5,330 |
| Washington | $70K | +14% | 3,840 |
| New Jersey | $70K | +14% | 6,060 |
| California | $67K | +9% | 26,500 |
| Delaware | $65K | +7% | 490 |
| Wyoming | $65K | +6% | 330 |
| New York | $64K | +5% | 15,420 |
| Vermont | $63K | +4% | 530 |
| Alabama | $63K | +3% | 1,280 |
| Connecticut | $63K | +3% | 3,600 |
| Maryland | $62K | +2% | 3,310 |
| Arizona | $62K | +2% | 3,260 |
| Illinois | $61K | +1% | 5,540 |
| South Carolina | $61K | +0% | 2,000 |
| West Virginia | $61K | -0% | 310 |
| Oregon | $60K | -1% | 3,640 |
| Wisconsin | $60K | -1% | 2,130 |
| North Carolina | $60K | -2% | 4,100 |
| Virginia | $60K | -2% | 3,900 |
| Pennsylvania | $60K | -2% | 7,060 |
| Florida | $60K | -2% | 17,170 |
| Tennessee | $59K | -2% | 2,720 |
| Minnesota | $59K | -3% | 1,630 |
| Missouri | $59K | -3% | 1,590 |
| Nevada | $59K | -4% | 4,560 |
| Michigan | $58K | -4% | 5,310 |
| New Hampshire | $58K | -4% | 1,260 |
| Nebraska | $58K | -4% | 600 |
| Kansas | $58K | -4% | 980 |
| Alaska | $58K | -6% | 780 |
| Indiana | $57K | -6% | 1,140 |
| Ohio | $57K | -7% | 4,040 |
| Maine | $56K | -8% | 1,290 |
| Montana | $56K | -9% | 500 |
| New Mexico | $55K | -10% | 400 |
| Oklahoma | $53K | -13% | 1,210 |
| Georgia | $52K | -15% | 4,390 |
| Texas | $51K | -16% | 16,550 |
| Idaho | $50K | -18% | 420 |
| Arkansas | $49K | -20% | 950 |
| South Dakota | $47K | -24% | 290 |
| Mississippi | $45K | -26% | 950 |
| Utah | $44K | -27% | 1,880 |
| Kentucky | $44K | -27% | 1,860 |
| Iowa | $44K | -28% | 1,500 |
| Louisiana | $38K | -37% | 1,860 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track chefs and head cooks salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont numbers change.
Related careers in Food Service
Frequently asked questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
The median is $71,600 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,760, and experienced chefs and head cooks can clear $118,990. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $72K enough to live in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,661/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $3,604/month, which eats 77.3% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a chefs and head cooks salary go in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont has a Regional Price Parity of 115.61 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median chefs and head cooks salary is worth about $61,932 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do chefs and head cooks get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.