Cooks, Fast Food Salary in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Cooks, Fast Foods in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA make a median of $35,730 a year, or about $17.18 an hour. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $44K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 111.89), so that salary is closer to $31,933 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $3,001/month — about 121.7% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $36K get you in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad’s Regional Price Parity (111.89). 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.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Entry-level cooks, fast foods (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $36K. Top earners bring in $44K or more, a $10K spread from bottom to top.
Cooks, Fast Food pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $40K | +34% | 830 |
| District of Columbia | $38K | +27% | 2,610 |
| New Hampshire | $37K | +23% | 2,280 |
| Massachusetts | $37K | +23% | 5,140 |
| Vermont | $37K | +23% | 1,060 |
| Oregon | $37K | +23% | 4,360 |
| Washington | $37K | +22% | 8,630 |
| California | $36K | +21% | 136,550 |
| Alaska | $36K | +19% | 2,930 |
| Maine | $36K | +19% | 1,970 |
| Rhode Island | $36K | +18% | N/A |
| New York | $34K | +13% | 21,210 |
| New Jersey | $34K | +13% | 5,360 |
| Connecticut | $34K | +12% | 3,950 |
| Nevada | $33K | +8% | 6,610 |
| Wyoming | $32K | +7% | 440 |
| Maryland | $32K | +5% | 9,550 |
| Illinois | $32K | +5% | 16,320 |
| Arizona | $31K | +3% | 11,220 |
| Minnesota | $31K | +2% | 7,400 |
| South Dakota | $31K | +2% | 1,210 |
| Utah | $30K | -1% | 6,250 |
| Missouri | $29K | -2% | 52,590 |
| North Dakota | $29K | -3% | 840 |
| Michigan | $29K | -3% | 11,470 |
| Nebraska | $29K | -3% | 2,000 |
| Delaware | $29K | -4% | 790 |
| Florida | $29K | -4% | 19,510 |
| New Mexico | $29K | -4% | 2,600 |
| Iowa | $29K | -5% | 5,900 |
| Virginia | $29K | -5% | 17,430 |
| Indiana | $29K | -5% | 5,840 |
| Wisconsin | $28K | -6% | 9,420 |
| Kansas | $28K | -7% | 2,150 |
| Tennessee | $28K | -7% | 16,690 |
| Oklahoma | $28K | -9% | 9,760 |
| Pennsylvania | $27K | -9% | 12,420 |
| North Carolina | $27K | -11% | 89,140 |
| Alabama | $27K | -12% | 25,580 |
| Ohio | $27K | -12% | 12,610 |
| Georgia | $26K | -12% | 6,040 |
| Montana | $26K | -13% | 1,310 |
| Idaho | $26K | -13% | 2,090 |
| Arkansas | $25K | -18% | 5,980 |
| Texas | $24K | -19% | 31,120 |
| South Carolina | $24K | -21% | 10,120 |
| Kentucky | $23K | -22% | 20,250 |
| West Virginia | $23K | -24% | 15,590 |
| Mississippi | $22K | -26% | 10,520 |
| Louisiana | $22K | -27% | 2,120 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track cooks, fast food salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do cooks, fast foods make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The median is $35,730 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,680, and experienced cooks, fast foods can clear $44,450. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $36K enough to live in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,512/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $3,001/month, which eats 119.5% 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 cooks, fast food salary go in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad?
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad has a Regional Price Parity of 111.89 (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 cooks, fast food salary is worth about $31,933 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do cooks, fast foods 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.