Restaurant Cook Salary in San Diego, CA
Updated
The median restaurant cook in the San Diego area earns $46,440 a year ($22.33 an hour), 24% above the U.S. median ($37,390) and 3% above the California median ($44,880). Half of the 15,670 restaurant cooks there earn between $40,330 and $47,560.
Median $46,440
10th: $37,84090th: $51,820
| Annual pay | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,840 | $37,100 | $28,700 |
| 25th percentile | $40,330 | $38,590 | $34,010 |
| Median | $46,440 | $44,880 | $37,390 |
| 75th percentile | $47,560 | $47,330 | $44,620 |
| 90th percentile | $51,820 | $55,580 | $47,900 |
| Average | $45,770 | $45,020 | $38,730 |
| Jobs | 15,670 | 152,250 | 1,409,890 |
San Diego, CA ranks 3rd of the 50 largest U.S. metro areas for restaurant cook pay. Highest: Seattle, WA ($47,730).
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Check my payRestaurant cook pay in other cities
- San Jose, CA: $47,170
- San Francisco, CA: $46,030
- Los Angeles, CA: $44,460
- Seattle, WA: $47,730
- Boston, MA: $45,830
- Portland, OR: $45,200
- Denver, CO: $44,370
- New York, NY: $43,740
- All cities
Similar jobs in San Diego, CA
- Food Preparation Worker: $38,780
- Fast Food Worker: $42,190
- Waiter: $35,850
- Food Service Supervisor: $46,980
- Bartender: $36,260
- All jobs in San Diego, CA
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, published May 15, 2026
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, www.bls.gov/oes. BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov.