How much does a cook make in Modesto?
$38,260a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Modesto, CA metro area. That is $18.39 an hour or $3,188 a month.
- Hourly
- $18.39
- Vs. national median
- +7%
- Rank among cities
- 41 of 237
- Jobs in the area
- 370
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $35,950Median: $38,260Highest 10%: $47,420
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,950 | $17.28 | |
| 25th | $37,410 | $17.99 | |
| Median | $38,260 | $18.39 | |
| 75th | $44,820 | $21.55 | |
| 90th | $47,420 | $22.80 |
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 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $38,020 |
| Visalia, CA | $37,940 |
| Chico, CA | $37,700 |
| Stockton, CA | $37,490 |
| San Diego, CA | $37,300 |
| Redding, CA | $36,730 |
| Merced, CA | $36,240 |
| Riverside, CA | $35,610 |
Related jobs in Modesto
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $61,330 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $46,190 |
| Cook | $45,480 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $42,630 |
| Cook | $42,510 |
| Cook | $41,910 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $38,450 |
| Food Server | $38,010 |
| Dishwasher | $36,810 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $35,760 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in Modesto?
The median hourly pay in the Modesto, CA metro area is $18.39 ($38,260 a year).
Do cooks make more in Modesto than the national average?
Yes: $38,260 against $35,880 nationally, 7% more.
How does Modesto compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $42,930, so Modesto pays 11% less.
Where does Modesto rank for cook pay?
41 of 237 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Modesto?
The lowest-paid 10% make $35,950 or less a year; the top 10% make $47,420 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.