How much does a cook make in Chico?
$40,340a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Chico, CA metro area. That is $19.39 an hour or $3,362 a month.
- Hourly
- $19.39
- Vs. national median
- +31%
- Rank among cities
- 22 of 308
- Jobs in the area
- 580
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $35,520Median: $40,340Highest 10%: $45,330
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,520 | $17.08 | |
| 25th | $37,760 | $18.15 | |
| Median | $40,340 | $19.39 | |
| 75th | $42,080 | $20.23 | |
| 90th | $45,330 | $21.79 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| San Jose, CA | $47,220 |
| San Francisco, CA | $46,670 |
| Napa, CA | $45,300 |
| Vallejo, CA | $44,450 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $43,840 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $43,630 |
| Salinas, CA | $43,120 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $42,700 |
| Oxnard, CA | $42,530 |
| Modesto, CA | $42,510 |
| Riverside, CA | $42,480 |
| San Diego, CA | $42,450 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $42,390 |
| Yuba City, CA | $42,320 |
| Sacramento, CA | $42,210 |
| Stockton, CA | $41,600 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $41,480 |
| Hanford, CA | $41,280 |
| Merced, CA | $40,430 |
| El Centro, CA | $40,230 |
| Redding, CA | $39,920 |
| Visalia, CA | $39,750 |
| Fresno, CA | $39,620 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $38,000 |
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 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $38,210 |
| Cook | $37,980 |
| 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 $19.39 ($40,340 a year).
Do cooks make more in Chico than the national average?
Yes: $40,340 against $30,890 nationally, 31% more.
How does Chico compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $42,050, so Chico pays 4% less.
Where does Chico rank for cook pay?
22 of 308 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Chico?
The lowest-paid 10% make $35,520 or less a year; the top 10% make $45,330 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.