Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in San Jose, CA

Updated 2024 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsUSD $

Median Salary

$81,000

Average Salary

$84,000

Salary Range

$49,000 - $105,000

Est. Employment*

7,500

*Employment figures are estimates based on national occupational data distributed across metro areas. Actual local numbers may vary.

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Salary Distribution

Top 10%
$105,000
75th Percentile
$96,000
Median
$81,000
25th Percentile
$63,000
Bottom 10%
$49,000

10th to 90th percentile range. Half of all chefs and head cooks earn between $63,000 and $96,000.

About Chefs and Head Cooks in San Jose

Chefs and Head Cooks prepare, cook, and serve food in restaurants, hotels, cafeterias, and other dining establishments. They ensure that meals are prepared safely and presented appealingly to satisfy customers.

In San Jose, chefs and head cooks benefit from higher salaries that reflect the area's elevated cost of living. The area's major industries include Technology & Software, Semiconductor Manufacturing, Clean Energy.

Key Skills

Time ManagementTeamworkCustomer ServiceMenu KnowledgePhysical StaminaKnife Skills

Education

High school diploma or equivalent; culinary degree for advanced roles

Many positions require little formal education beyond a high school diploma. Chefs and head cooks often benefit from culinary school training or apprenticeships. On-the-job training is common across all levels.

Tips to Earn More as a Chefs and Head Cooks

1.Develop expertise in a culinary specialty (pastry, international cuisine, etc.)
2.Build management skills to advance to head chef or restaurant manager
3.Stay current with food trends and dietary preferences
4.Consider catering or private chef work for higher earning potential
5.Build a reputation through competitions, social media, or food publications

Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Other Cities

CityMedianRangevs San Jose
San Francisco, CA$82,000$49,000 - $107,000+1%
New York, NY$74,000$44,000 - $96,000-9%
Seattle, WA$74,000$44,000 - $96,000-9%
Boston, MA$74,000$44,000 - $96,000-9%
Washington DC, DC$73,000$44,000 - $95,000-10%
Los Angeles, CA$69,000$45,000 - $87,000-15%
Honolulu, HI$68,000$44,000 - $86,000-16%
Portland, OR$67,000$44,000 - $85,000-17%
San Diego, CA$66,000$43,000 - $83,000-19%
Anchorage, AK$66,000$43,000 - $83,000-19%
Denver, CO$65,000$42,000 - $82,000-20%
Philadelphia, PA$64,000$42,000 - $81,000-21%
Baltimore, MD$64,000$42,000 - $81,000-21%
Sacramento, CA$64,000$42,000 - $81,000-21%
Minneapolis, MN$63,000$41,000 - $80,000-22%
Austin, TX$63,000$41,000 - $80,000-22%
Hartford, CT$62,000$40,000 - $78,000-23%
Dallas, TX$61,000$40,000 - $77,000-25%
Raleigh, NC$61,000$40,000 - $77,000-25%
Chicago, IL$60,000$39,000 - $76,000-26%
Houston, TX$59,000$38,000 - $74,000-27%
Atlanta, GA$58,000$38,000 - $73,000-28%
Salt Lake City, UT$58,000$38,000 - $73,000-28%
Columbus, OH$58,000$38,000 - $73,000-28%
Kansas City, MO$58,000$38,000 - $73,000-28%
Phoenix, AZ$57,000$37,000 - $72,000-30%
Detroit, MI$56,000$36,000 - $71,000-31%
Nashville, TN$56,000$36,000 - $71,000-31%
Charlotte, NC$56,000$36,000 - $71,000-31%
Las Vegas, NV$56,000$36,000 - $71,000-31%
Indianapolis, IN$56,000$36,000 - $71,000-31%
St. Louis, MO$56,000$36,000 - $71,000-31%
Cincinnati, OH$56,000$36,000 - $71,000-31%
Milwaukee, WI$56,000$36,000 - $71,000-31%
Richmond, VA$56,000$36,000 - $71,000-31%
Miami, FL$55,000$36,000 - $69,000-32%
San Antonio, TX$55,000$36,000 - $69,000-32%
Pittsburgh, PA$55,000$36,000 - $69,000-32%
Louisville, KY$55,000$36,000 - $69,000-32%
Toronto, ON$55,000$36,000 - $69,000-32%
Vancouver, BC$55,000$36,000 - $69,000-32%
Tampa, FL$54,000$35,000 - $68,000-33%
Jacksonville, FL$54,000$35,000 - $68,000-33%
New Orleans, LA$54,000$35,000 - $68,000-33%
Birmingham, AL$54,000$35,000 - $68,000-33%
Tucson, AZ$54,000$35,000 - $68,000-33%
Orlando, FL$53,000$34,000 - $67,000-35%
Cleveland, OH$53,000$34,000 - $67,000-35%
Memphis, TN$53,000$34,000 - $67,000-35%
Buffalo, NY$53,000$34,000 - $67,000-35%
Ottawa, ON$52,000$34,000 - $66,000-36%
Oklahoma City, OK$51,000$33,000 - $64,000-37%
Calgary, AB$51,000$33,000 - $64,000-37%
Edmonton, AB$49,000$32,000 - $62,000-40%
Hamilton, ON$47,000$31,000 - $59,000-42%
Montreal, QC$46,000$30,000 - $58,000-43%
Winnipeg, MB$44,000$31,000 - $54,000-46%
Halifax, NS$43,000$30,000 - $53,000-47%
Quebec City, QC$42,000$29,000 - $51,000-48%