How much does a cook make in Merced?
$40,430a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Merced, CA metro area. That is $19.44 an hour or $3,369 a month.
- Hourly
- $19.44
- Vs. national median
- +31%
- Rank among cities
- 21 of 308
- Jobs in the area
- 660
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $34,560Median: $40,430Highest 10%: $42,560
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,560 | $16.62 | |
| 25th | $37,920 | $18.23 | |
| Median | $40,430 | $19.44 | |
| 75th | $42,140 | $20.26 | |
| 90th | $42,560 | $20.46 |
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 |
| Chico, CA | $40,340 |
| 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 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 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $38,980 |
| Cook | $38,480 |
| 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 $19.44 ($40,430 a year).
Do cooks make more in Merced than the national average?
Yes: $40,430 against $30,890 nationally, 31% more.
How does Merced compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $42,050, so Merced pays 4% less.
Where does Merced rank for cook pay?
21 of 308 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Merced?
The lowest-paid 10% make $34,560 or less a year; the top 10% make $42,560 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.