How much does a cook make in Chico?
$37,980a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Chico, CA metro area. That is $18.26 an hour or $3,165 a month.
- Hourly
- $18.26
- Vs. national median
- +2%
- Rank among cities
- 95 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 600
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $35,410Median: $37,980Highest 10%: $45,740
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,410 | $17.02 | |
| 25th | $36,420 | $17.51 | |
| Median | $37,980 | $18.26 | |
| 75th | $44,610 | $21.45 | |
| 90th | $45,740 | $21.99 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Napa, CA | $47,320 |
| San Jose, CA | $47,170 |
| San Diego, CA | $46,440 |
| San Francisco, CA | $46,030 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $45,720 |
| Salinas, CA | $44,930 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $44,560 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $44,460 |
| Sacramento, CA | $44,230 |
| Vallejo, CA | $44,100 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $43,340 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $43,220 |
| Riverside, CA | $42,450 |
| Oxnard, CA | $42,060 |
| Modesto, CA | $41,910 |
| Stockton, CA | $41,170 |
| Yuba City, CA | $39,160 |
| Hanford, CA | $38,810 |
| Merced, CA | $38,480 |
| Fresno, CA | $38,260 |
| Redding, CA | $38,200 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $37,800 |
| El Centro, CA | $37,710 |
| Visalia, CA | $37,090 |
Related jobs in Chico
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $55,990 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $45,900 |
| Cook | $41,380 |
| Cook | $40,340 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $38,210 |
| Cook | $37,700 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $37,510 |
| Food Server | $37,400 |
| Host and Hostess | $35,170 |
| Dishwasher | $35,150 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in Chico?
The median hourly pay in the Chico, CA metro area is $18.26 ($37,980 a year).
Do cooks make more in Chico than the national average?
Yes: $37,980 against $37,390 nationally, 2% more.
How does Chico compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $44,880, so Chico pays 15% less.
Where does Chico rank for cook pay?
95 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Chico?
The lowest-paid 10% make $35,410 or less a year; the top 10% make $45,740 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.