Cooks, Short Order Salary in San Jose, CA
Cooks, Short Order in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median $45,990 a year — 28% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,706 take-home, or $3,142 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, short order salary in San Jose, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,339
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,851
- Medicare (1.45%)$667
- California income tax$829
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$598
- Take-home pay$37,706
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Cooks, Short Order pay by experience in San Jose, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,250 | $19.35 | $33,398 | $2,783 |
| 25th percentile | $43,010 | $20.68 | $35,470 | $2,956 |
| Median (50th) | $45,990 | $22.11 | $37,706 | $3,142 |
| 75th percentile | $46,990 | $22.59 | $38,457 | $3,205 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $50,890 | $24.47 | $41,306 | $3,442 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $45,990 buys in San Jose, CA
Prices in San Jose, CA are 10.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 2.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, short order's $37,706 take-home pay has the buying power of $34,147 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 Jose, CA has 1.6× the national concentration of cooks, short order jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for cooks, short order, adjusted for cost of living
San Jose, CA ranks #5 of 45 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $50,870 | $43,054 | $38,741 |
| 2 | Providence, RI | $44,050 | $36,539 | $35,903 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa, CA | $46,450 | $38,051 | $35,303 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $44,200 | $36,458 | $34,466 |
| 5 | San Jose, CA | $45,990 | $37,706 | $34,147 |
| 6 | Sioux Falls, SD | $35,570 | $30,760 | $33,940 |
| 7 | St. Louis, MO | $38,490 | $32,235 | $33,900 |
| 8 | Nashville, TN | $37,830 | $32,576 | $33,815 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 45 metros →
Cooks, Short Order salaries elsewhere in California
- Santa Rosa, CA — $46,450
- San Francisco, CA — $45,790
- Los Angeles, CA — $43,680
- Fresno, CA — $38,280
- Sacramento, CA — $38,480
- Riverside, CA — $35,610
- San Diego, CA — $37,300
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, short order make in San Jose, CA?
The median cooks, short order salary in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $45,990 a year, or about $22.11 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $43,010 and $46,990.
What is a cooks, short order’s take-home pay in San Jose, CA?
On the median $45,990 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $37,706 a year ($3,142 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,427 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Jose, CA a good place to work as a cooks, short order?
Pay here is 28% above the national median of $35,880. Local prices are 10.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $34,147 would in a typical U.S. city. San Jose, CA ranks #5 of 45 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, short order afford rent in San Jose, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Jose, CA is $2,957 a month ($3,464 for two bedrooms) — 94% of a median cooks, short order’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Jose, CA
- Chef and Head Cook — $79,020
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $55,520
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $51,880
- Cooks, Fast Food — $47,220
- Cooks, Restaurant — $47,170
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $46,210
- Food Preparation Worker — $45,580
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — $44,720
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $44,570
- Dishwasher — $43,960
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $42,400
- Bartender — $42,270