How much does a cook make in Modesto?
$42,510a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Modesto, CA metro area. That is $20.44 an hour or $3,543 a month.
- Hourly
- $20.44
- Vs. national median
- +38%
- Rank among cities
- 11 of 308
- Jobs in the area
- 1,620
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $36,120Median: $42,510Highest 10%: $46,940
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,120 | $17.37 | |
| 25th | $38,430 | $18.48 | |
| Median | $42,510 | $20.44 | |
| 75th | $43,260 | $20.80 | |
| 90th | $46,940 | $22.57 |
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 |
| 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 |
| 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 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 | $41,910 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $38,450 |
| Cook | $38,260 |
| 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 $20.44 ($42,510 a year).
Do cooks make more in Modesto than the national average?
Yes: $42,510 against $30,890 nationally, 38% more.
How does Modesto compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $42,050, so Modesto pays 1% more.
Where does Modesto rank for cook pay?
11 of 308 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Modesto?
The lowest-paid 10% make $36,120 or less a year; the top 10% make $46,940 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.