Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Merced, CA

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

Median annual salary $43,920 +20.5% vs national
Median hourly $21.12
10th percentile $36,090
90th percentile $53,440
Employed locally 150
National median $36,450

Compare Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary & buying power

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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
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Merced, CA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $36,090
    25th
    $36,920
    50th (median)
    $43,920
    75th
    $46,500
    90th
    $53,440

    Merced economic context

    Unemployment rate 9.80% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $65,044 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary vs area income 68% Median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary is 32% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $54,840
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $50,290
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $50,150
    Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $49,850
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $48,940
    Washington $48,260

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $48,940
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $47,920
    Hanford-Corcoran, CA $47,920
    Napa, CA $47,910
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $46,910
    Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $46,760

    Related occupations in Merced, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $36,440
    Cooks, Fast Food $35,960
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $45,280
    Waiters and Waitresses $33,420
    Cooks, Restaurant $37,740
    Food Preparation Workers $35,140

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria make per hour in Merced?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Merced, CA is $21.12, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $28.28 or more per hour.

    Is Merced above or below average for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salaries?

    The median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Merced, CA is 20.5% above the national median of $36,450. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Merced?

    Entry-level Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (10th percentile) earn around $36,090 per year in Merced, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $36,920.