The median annual wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA is $64,560 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $67,030.
Pay spans roughly $43,470 at the 10th percentile to $93,290 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $31.04 per hour. An estimated 150 people work as chefs and head cooks in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA.
| Median (annual) | $64,560 |
| Mean (annual) | $67,030 |
| Median (hourly) | $31.04 |
| 10th percentile | $43,470 |
| 90th percentile | $93,290 |
| Employment | 150 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.