How much does a chef and head cook make in Merced?
$57,500a year
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks in the Merced, CA metro area. That is $27.64 an hour or $4,792 a month.
- Hourly
- $27.64
- Vs. national median
- -8%
- Rank among cities
- 200 of 340
- Jobs in the area
- 90
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $35,140Median: $57,500Highest 10%: $98,900
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,140 | $16.89 | |
| 25th | $42,240 | $20.31 | |
| Median | $57,500 | $27.64 | |
| 75th | $86,830 | $41.75 | |
| 90th | $98,900 | $47.55 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks.
| San Jose, CA | $79,020 |
| Napa, CA | $78,960 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $73,570 |
| Salinas, CA | $72,440 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $69,990 |
| San Francisco, CA | $68,970 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $65,060 |
| Riverside, CA | $64,480 |
| Vallejo, CA | $63,230 |
| Oxnard, CA | $62,620 |
| Fresno, CA | $61,870 |
| Modesto, CA | $61,330 |
| San Diego, CA | $60,600 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $59,400 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $59,190 |
| Sacramento, CA | $57,870 |
| Visalia, CA | $57,600 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $57,220 |
| Redding, CA | $56,550 |
| Chico, CA | $55,990 |
| Stockton, CA | $55,210 |
| Hanford, CA | $45,800 |
| Yuba City, CA | $44,340 |
Related jobs in Merced
Same field, median yearly pay.
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $45,490 |
| Cook | $44,410 |
| Cook | $40,430 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $38,980 |
| Cook | $38,480 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $38,200 |
| Cook | $36,240 |
| Dishwasher | $35,210 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $34,720 |
| Host and Hostess | $34,690 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chef and head cook make an hour in Merced?
The median hourly pay in the Merced, CA metro area is $27.64 ($57,500 a year).
Do chef and head cooks make more in Merced than the national average?
No: $57,500 against $62,470 nationally, 8% less.
How does Merced compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $64,500, so Merced pays 11% less.
Where does Merced rank for chef and head cook pay?
200 of 340 metro areas with data.
How much does a chef and head cook make starting out in Merced?
The lowest-paid 10% make $35,140 or less a year; the top 10% make $98,900 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.