How much does a cook make in Chico?
$37,700a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Chico, CA metro area. That is $18.13 an hour or $3,142 a month.
- Hourly
- $18.13
- Vs. national median
- +5%
- Rank among cities
- 50 of 237
- Jobs in the area
- 190
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $34,470Median: $37,700Highest 10%: $45,460
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,470 | $16.57 | |
| 25th | $34,470 | $16.57 | |
| Median | $37,700 | $18.13 | |
| 75th | $42,370 | $20.37 | |
| 90th | $45,460 | $21.86 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Santa Rosa, CA | $46,450 |
| San Jose, CA | $45,990 |
| San Francisco, CA | $45,790 |
| Vallejo, CA | $45,360 |
| Napa, CA | $43,930 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $43,680 |
| Oxnard, CA | $42,990 |
| Yuba City, CA | $42,400 |
| Salinas, CA | $40,550 |
| Hanford, CA | $39,300 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $39,140 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $38,490 |
| Sacramento, CA | $38,480 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $38,340 |
| Fresno, CA | $38,280 |
| Modesto, CA | $38,260 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $38,020 |
| Visalia, CA | $37,940 |
| Stockton, CA | $37,490 |
| San Diego, CA | $37,300 |
| Redding, CA | $36,730 |
| Merced, CA | $36,240 |
| Riverside, CA | $35,610 |
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 | $37,980 |
| 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 $18.13 ($37,700 a year).
Do cooks make more in Chico than the national average?
Yes: $37,700 against $35,880 nationally, 5% more.
How does Chico compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $42,930, so Chico pays 12% less.
Where does Chico rank for cook pay?
50 of 237 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Chico?
The lowest-paid 10% make $34,470 or less a year; the top 10% make $45,460 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.