CDCareer Decision

Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Santa Cruz, CA

In the 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS dataset, Chefs and Head Cooks in Santa Cruz, CA have a median annual salary of $59,190, with 200 recorded jobs in this area. Recorded earnings range from $39,740 at the 10th percentile to $96,130 at the 90th percentile.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · Data year: 2025 · Last updated: 2026-09-22

Salary overview

Median annual salary

$59,190

Data year: 2025

Hourly median

$28.46

Employment

200

Source

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS

Salary distribution

$39,740
10th
$42,700
25th
$59,190
Median
$76,980
75th
$96,130
90th

Local compared with national

Santa Cruz, CA

$59,190

Median annual · 2025

United States

$62,470

Median annual · 2025

The Santa Cruz, CA median is 5.3% below the national median in the available dataset (a difference of $3,280).

Top skills

  1. 1.CoordinationImportance 4.1
  2. 2.MonitoringImportance 4.0
  3. 3.SpeakingImportance 3.9
  4. 4.Social PerceptivenessImportance 3.9
  5. 5.Time ManagementImportance 3.9
  6. 6.Management of Personnel ResourcesImportance 3.9
  7. 7.Critical ThinkingImportance 3.8
  8. 8.Service OrientationImportance 3.8
  9. 9.Active ListeningImportance 3.6
  10. 10.InstructingImportance 3.6
  11. 11.Judgment and Decision MakingImportance 3.6
  12. 12.Reading ComprehensionImportance 3.5

Career information

Education and experience

Typical education
Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree
Experience
Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
Job zone
3

Technology used

  • ADP eTIME
  • Axxya Systems Nutritionist Pro
  • Barrington Software CookenPro Commercial
  • CostGuard
  • Culinary Software Services ChefTec
  • Delphi Technology
  • EGS CALCMENU
  • Email software
  • Enggist & Grandjean EGS F&B Control
  • Facebook
  • GNOME Gnutrition
  • Google Sheets
  • GroupMe
  • IPro Restaurant Inventory, Recipe & Menu Software
  • Menu planning software

Common tasks

  • Determine how food should be presented and create decorative food displays.
  • Monitor sanitation practices to ensure that employees follow standards and regulations.
  • Instruct cooks or other workers in the preparation, cooking, garnishing, or presentation of food.
  • Supervise or coordinate activities of cooks or workers engaged in food preparation.
  • Order or requisition food or other supplies needed to ensure efficient operation.
  • Inspect supplies, equipment, or work areas to ensure conformance to established standards.
  • Check the quantity and quality of received products.
  • Check the quality of raw or cooked food products to ensure that standards are met.
  • Estimate amounts and costs of required supplies, such as food and ingredients.
  • Coordinate planning, budgeting, or purchasing for all the food operations within establishments such as clubs, hotels, or restaurant chains.

Related careers

Occupations recorded as related in the dataset. A relationship does not imply a guaranteed transition.

Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other locations

Other occupations in Santa Cruz, CA