The median annual wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA is $72,220 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $76,000.
Pay spans roughly $49,110 at the 10th percentile to $103,630 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $34.72 per hour. An estimated 390 people work as chefs and head cooks in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA.
| Median (annual) | $72,220 |
| Mean (annual) | $76,000 |
| Median (hourly) | $34.72 |
| 10th percentile | $49,110 |
| 90th percentile | $103,630 |
| Employment | 390 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.