Salary comparison
Fast Food and Counter Workers: San Jose vs Santa Cruz
San Jose, CA pays about 2.7% more for fast food and counter workers on paper — $44,570 vs $43,400. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, San Jose comes out ahead by $1,170 a year in real buying power.
San Jose, CA
$44,570
$39,420
$48,700
$21.43
100
$44,570/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Santa Cruz, CA
$43,400
$36,530
$44,880
$20.87
100
$43,400/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $1,170 a year (2.7%) in favor of San Jose. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
San Jose runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Santa Cruz sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, San Jose is the better deal by $1,170 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Santa Cruz to San Jose for this role, the raise needs to beat 2.7% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do fast food and counter workers earn more, San Jose or Santa Cruz?
San Jose pays $44,570 on median — about 2.7% more than Santa Cruz ($43,400). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
San Jose. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, San Jose gives you roughly$44,570 of real buying power versus $43,400 in the other city.