Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Santa Cruz, CA
The median cooks, institution and cafeteria in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA earns $46,850 a year, 25% above the US median. After tax that is roughly $3,045 a month.
- 10th percentile
- $37,720
- 25th percentile
- $43,450
- Median percentile
- $46,850
- 75th percentile
- $56,900
- 90th percentile
- $58,820
Based on 250 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
$36,544 take-home a year
| Gross pay | $46,850 |
| Federal income tax | −$3,442 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$3,584 |
| California income tax (approx.) | −$3,280 |
| Monthly take-home | $3,045 |
| Every two weeks | $1,406 |
Does it go far here?
$42,631Median pay in Santa Cruz, CA is worth this at average US prices (local price level 109.9 vs 100).
74%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 cooks, institution and cafeteria salaries · Take-home pay in California