The median annual wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA is $78,050 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $79,730.
Pay spans roughly $47,630 at the 10th percentile to $109,960 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $37.52 per hour. An estimated 1,180 people work as chefs and head cooks in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA.
| Median (annual) | $78,050 |
| Mean (annual) | $79,730 |
| Median (hourly) | $37.52 |
| 10th percentile | $47,630 |
| 90th percentile | $109,960 |
| Employment | 1,180 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.