Chef and Head Cook Salary in San Diego, CA
Chefs and Head Cooks in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $60,600 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $48,399 take-home, or $4,033 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median chef and head cook salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,092
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,757
- Medicare (1.45%)$879
- California income tax$1,685
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$788
- Take-home pay$48,399
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Chef and Head Cook pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,440 | $18.00 | $31,289 | $2,607 |
| 25th percentile | $45,760 | $22.00 | $37,534 | $3,128 |
| Median (50th) | $60,600 | $29.13 | $48,399 | $4,033 |
| 75th percentile | $76,590 | $36.82 | $58,800 | $4,900 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $96,740 | $46.51 | $70,862 | $5,905 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $60,600 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median chef and head cook's $48,399 take-home pay has the buying power of $43,257 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
San Diego, CA has 2.0× the national concentration of chef and head cook jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for chefs and head cooks, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #16 of 18 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $80,330 | $65,342 | $58,796 |
| 2 | Atlanta, GA | $74,660 | $58,101 | $58,068 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $74,900 | $58,100 | $53,360 |
| 4 | Las Vegas, NV | $62,380 | $52,302 | $52,190 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $72,470 | $56,409 | $52,102 |
| 6 | Dallas, TX | $64,100 | $53,684 | $52,075 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $65,680 | $52,938 | $51,619 |
| 8 | Orlando, FL | $61,390 | $51,507 | $50,787 |
| 16 | San Diego, CA | $60,600 | $48,399 | $43,257 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 18 metros →
About the job: chefs and head cooks
Direct and may participate in the preparation, seasoning, and cooking of salads, soups, fish, meats, vegetables, desserts, or other foods. May plan and price menu items, order supplies, and keep records and accounts.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- 5 years or more
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +6.6% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Chef and Head Cook salaries elsewhere in California
- Los Angeles, CA — $69,990
- Riverside, CA — $64,480
- San Francisco, CA — $68,970
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chef and head cook make in San Diego, CA?
The median chef and head cook salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $60,600 a year, or about $29.13 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $45,760 and $76,590.
What is a chef and head cook’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $60,600 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $48,399 a year ($4,033 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,473 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a chef and head cook?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $62,470. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $43,257 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #16 of 18 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a chef and head cook afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 61% of a median chef and head cook’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $47,100
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $46,980
- Cooks, Restaurant — $46,440
- Cooks, Fast Food — $42,450
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $42,190
- Food Preparation Worker — $38,780
- Dishwasher — $38,530
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $38,260
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — $36,330
- Bartender — $36,260
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $36,140
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $35,960