Cooks, Restaurant salary in Santa Cruz, CA
The median cooks, restaurant in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA earns $44,560 a year, 19% above the US median. After tax that is roughly $2,905 a month.
- 10th percentile
- $37,170
- 25th percentile
- $38,360
- Median percentile
- $44,560
- 75th percentile
- $47,200
- 90th percentile
- $49,840
Based on 1,020 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
$34,865 take-home a year
| Gross pay | $44,560 |
| Federal income tax | −$3,167 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$3,409 |
| California income tax (approx.) | −$3,119 |
| Monthly take-home | $2,905 |
| Every two weeks | $1,341 |
Does it go far here?
$40,547Median pay in Santa Cruz, CA is worth this at average US prices (local price level 109.9 vs 100).
78%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, restaurant salaries · Take-home pay in California