Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Modesto, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Modesto, CA

Median annual salary $63,760 +4.5% vs national
Median hourly $30.65
10th percentile $37,690
90th percentile $84,270
Employed locally 200
National median $60,990

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Chefs and Head Cooks
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Modesto, CA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $37,690
    25th
    $48,580
    50th (median)
    $63,760
    75th
    $72,740
    90th
    $84,270

    Modesto economic context

    Unemployment rate 6.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $79,661 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 80% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 20% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Chefs and Head Cooks

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $87,410
    Morgantown, WV $87,280
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $85,370
    Terre Haute, IN $83,880
    East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area $81,720
    Hawaii $81,200

    Nearby metros — Chefs and Head Cooks salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $78,050
    Napa, CA $76,350
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $74,640
    Salinas, CA $73,260
    Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $72,220
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $71,600

    Related occupations in Modesto, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers$37,430
    Waiters and Waitresses$34,310
    Cooks, Fast Food$36,650
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$45,360
    Cooks, Restaurant$38,770
    Food Preparation Workers$36,320

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make per hour in Modesto?

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Modesto, CA is $30.65, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $47.42 or more per hour.

    Is Modesto above or below average for Chefs and Head Cooks salaries?

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Modesto, CA is 4.5% 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 Modesto?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $37,690 per year in Modesto, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $48,580.