Chef and Head Cook Salary in San Francisco, CA
Chefs and Head Cooks in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $68,970 a year — 10% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $54,148 take-home, or $4,512 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median chef and head cook salary in San Francisco, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$6,343
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,276
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,000
- California income tax$2,305
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$897
- Take-home pay$54,148
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Chef and Head Cook pay by experience in San Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,860 | $20.61 | $35,357 | $2,946 |
| 25th percentile | $48,110 | $23.13 | $39,275 | $3,273 |
| Median (50th) | $68,970 | $33.16 | $54,148 | $4,512 |
| 75th percentile | $90,530 | $43.52 | $67,151 | $5,596 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $115,170 | $55.37 | $81,874 | $6,823 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $68,970 buys in San Francisco, CA
Prices in San Francisco, CA are 15.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.95× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median chef and head cook's $54,148 take-home pay has the buying power of $46,836 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 Francisco, CA has 1.8× 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 Francisco, CA ranks #14 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 |
| 14 | San Francisco, CA | $68,970 | $54,148 | $46,836 |
*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 Diego, CA — $60,600
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chef and head cook make in San Francisco, CA?
The median chef and head cook salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $68,970 a year, or about $33.16 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $48,110 and $90,530.
What is a chef and head cook’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $68,970 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $54,148 a year ($4,512 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,202 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a chef and head cook?
Pay here is 10% above the national median of $62,470. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $46,836 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #14 of 18 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a chef and head cook afford rent in San Francisco, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Francisco, CA is $2,620 a month ($3,187 for two bedrooms) — 58% 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 Francisco, CA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $51,520
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $49,140
- Cooks, Fast Food — $46,670
- Cooks, Restaurant — $46,030
- Cooks, Short Order — $45,790
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $44,710
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $43,870
- Dishwasher — $42,100
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — $41,970
- Food Preparation Worker — $41,000
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $39,810
- Bartender — $39,670