Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Merced, CA
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Merced, CA
Median annual salary
$61,470
+0.8% vs national
Median hourly
$29.55
10th percentile
$35,100
90th percentile
$123,640
Employed locally
60
National median
$60,990
Compare Chefs and Head Cooks salary & buying power
Type a city below to see how Merced, CA stacks up on salary and cost of living.
Chefs and Head Cooks
in
Merced, CA
vs
Salary percentile breakdown
Merced economic context
Unemployment rate
9.80%
2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
Median household income
$65,044
2023 • Census ACS
Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income
95%
Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 5% below the area median household income
Frequently asked questions
How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make per hour in Merced?
The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Merced, CA is $29.55, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $47.55 or more per hour.
Is Merced above or below average for Chefs and Head Cooks salaries?
The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Merced, CA is 0.8% above the national median of $60,990. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.
What is the entry-level salary for Chefs and Head Cooks in Merced?
Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $35,100 per year in Merced, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $49,660.