Outpaid

Chefs and Head Cooks salary
in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA

Chefs and Head Cooks in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro earn a median of $65,060 a year, based on BLS estimates for 520 jobs (May 2025). That is 4% above the U.S. median of $62,470 and 1% above the CA statewide median of $64,500. It ranks #44 of 160 metros with published figures for this job.

CHEFS AND HEAD COOKS · SANTA MARIA-SANTA BARBARA, CA · BLS
BLS OEWS MAY 2025 · SANTA MARIA-SANTA BARBARA, CA · ALL EMPLOYERS, ALL EXPERIENCE LEVELS
P10$38,280P25$45,520MEDIAN$65,060P75$80,400P90$100,880
BLS · UNITED STATES
P10$37,900P25$48,440MEDIAN$62,470P75$78,750P90$98,560
30 SECONDS · NO SIGNUP · ON-DEVICE

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CHEFS AND HEAD COOKS PAY IN OTHER CA METROS

Questions

What is the average Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Santa Maria?

The BLS median is $65,060 a year (May 2025). Half of the 520 jobs pay between $45,520 and $80,400. The 10th percentile is $38,280 and the 90th is $100,880.

Is Santa Maria a high-paying metro for Chefs and Head Cooks?

That is 4% above the U.S. median of $62,470 and 1% above the CA statewide median of $64,500. It ranks #44 of 160 U.S. metros with published BLS figures for this job.

Does this include experience levels?

BLS figures cover all experience levels together. Employer filings carry a DOL wage level, which the free checker can filter by (approximate).

Sources: U.S. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (national + state) (metro area estimates, all employers); employer rows from U.S. DOL OFLC LCA Disclosure Data, FY2026 Q3 (LCA_Disclosure_Data_FY2026_Q3.xlsx). Base pay only. Estimates can have sampling error, especially for smaller metros.