Cooks, Fast Food Salary in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Cooks, Fast Foods in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA make a median of $41,800 a year, or about $20.1 an hour. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $49K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 110.42), so that salary is closer to $37,855 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $3,483/month — about 120.7% of take-home, which is tight.
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $42K get you in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
About cooks, fast foods
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Entry-level cooks, fast foods (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $42K.Top earners bring in $49K or more - a $13K 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 |
Track cooks, fast food salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do cooks, fast foods make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The median is $41,800 a year - that works out to about $20.1 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,780, and experienced cooks, fast foods can clear $49,030. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $42K enough to live in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,898/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $3,483/month (HUD Fair Market Rent), which eats 120.2% 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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara has a Regional Price Parity of 110.42 (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 $37,855 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.