Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Santa Cruz, CA
The median chefs and head cooks in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA earns $59,190 a year, 5% below the US median. After tax that is roughly $3,800 a month.
- 10th percentile
- $39,740
- 25th percentile
- $42,700
- Median percentile
- $59,190
- 75th percentile
- $76,980
- 90th percentile
- $96,130
Based on 200 employed. Data period: BLS OEWS May 2025. Percentiles show the spread of pay, not experience; reading the 25th percentile as "entry level" is only an approximation.
What you keep
$45,596 take-home a year
| Gross pay | $59,190 |
| Federal income tax | −$4,923 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$4,528 |
| California income tax (approx.) | −$4,143 |
| Monthly take-home | $3,800 |
| Every two weeks | $1,754 |
Does it go far here?
$53,860Median pay in Santa Cruz, CA is worth this at average US prices (local price level 109.9 vs 100).
60%of take-home pay goes to the median rent ($2,264 a month, Census ACS).
Top-paying jobs in Santa Cruz, CA
| Job | Median pay |
|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | $170,960 |
| Software Developers | $156,910 |
| Sales Managers | $117,090 |
| General and Operations Managers | $105,360 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $99,260 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $98,810 |
| Accountants and Auditors | $84,920 |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $84,010 |
All chefs and head cooks salaries · Take-home pay in California