Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Cooks, Restaurants in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA make a median of $42,460 a year, or about $20.41 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $49K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 109.9), so that salary is closer to $38,635 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $4,214/month — about 143.7% 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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville?
About cooks, restaurants
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Entry-level cooks, restaurants (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $42K.Top earners bring in $49K or more - a $12K spread from bottom to top.
Cooks, Restaurant pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $46K | +26% | 31,640 |
| District of Columbia | $45K | +23% | 8,020 |
| Washington | $45K | +22% | 34,790 |
| Maine | $45K | +22% | 4,920 |
| Hawaii | $45K | +21% | 12,190 |
| Vermont | $45K | +21% | 2,710 |
| California | $44K | +20% | 160,270 |
| New York | $40K | +8% | 62,430 |
| New Hampshire | $39K | +6% | 6,980 |
| Rhode Island | $39K | +6% | 6,490 |
| Alaska | $39K | +5% | 2,480 |
| Minnesota | $38K | +4% | 26,900 |
| New Jersey | $38K | +3% | 30,720 |
| Oregon | $38K | +3% | 18,970 |
| Connecticut | $38K | +3% | 13,940 |
Track cooks, restaurant salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Santa Cruz-Watsonville numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do cooks, restaurants make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median is $42,460 a year - that works out to about $20.41 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,120, and experienced cooks, restaurants can clear $49,300. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $42K enough to live in Santa Cruz-Watsonville?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,940/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $4,214/month (HUD Fair Market Rent), which eats 143.3% 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 cooks, restaurant salary go in Santa Cruz-Watsonville?
Santa Cruz-Watsonville has a Regional Price Parity of 109.9 (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, restaurant salary is worth about $38,635 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do cooks, restaurants 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.