How much does a cook make in Merced?
$38,480a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Merced, CA metro area. That is $18.50 an hour or $3,207 a month.
- Hourly
- $18.50
- Vs. national median
- +3%
- Rank among cities
- 73 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 410
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $35,330Median: $38,480Highest 10%: $47,510
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,330 | $16.99 | |
| 25th | $36,810 | $17.70 | |
| Median | $38,480 | $18.50 | |
| 75th | $45,340 | $21.80 | |
| 90th | $47,510 | $22.84 |
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 |
| Fresno, CA | $38,260 |
| Redding, CA | $38,200 |
| Chico, CA | $37,980 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $37,800 |
| El Centro, CA | $37,710 |
| Visalia, CA | $37,090 |
Related jobs in Merced
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $57,500 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $45,490 |
| Cook | $44,410 |
| Cook | $40,430 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $38,980 |
| 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 cook make an hour in Merced?
The median hourly pay in the Merced, CA metro area is $18.50 ($38,480 a year).
Do cooks make more in Merced than the national average?
Yes: $38,480 against $37,390 nationally, 3% more.
How does Merced compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $44,880, so Merced pays 14% less.
Where does Merced rank for cook pay?
73 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Merced?
The lowest-paid 10% make $35,330 or less a year; the top 10% make $47,510 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.