Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Fresno, CA

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

Median annual salary $37,630 +2.2% vs national
Median hourly $18.09
10th percentile $34,070
90th percentile $45,800
Employed locally 2,910
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
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Fresno, CA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $34,070
    25th
    $35,720
    50th (median)
    $37,630
    75th
    $42,460
    90th
    $45,800

    Fresno economic context

    Unemployment rate 7.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $71,897 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 52% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 48% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Restaurant

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $48,320
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $46,970
    Portland-South Portland, ME $46,960
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $46,960
    Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area $46,500
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $46,340

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Restaurant salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $46,970
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $46,960
    Napa, CA $46,270
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $45,230
    San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $45,040
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $45,020

    Related occupations in Fresno, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers$35,640
    Cooks, Fast Food$35,160
    Waiters and Waitresses$33,290
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$44,300
    Food Preparation Workers$36,220
    Dishwashers$34,590

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Restaurant make per hour in Fresno?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Fresno, CA is $18.09, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $22.18 or more per hour.

    Is Fresno above or below average for Cooks, Restaurant salaries?

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Fresno, CA is 2.2% above the national median of $36,830. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Restaurant in Fresno?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $34,070 per year in Fresno, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $35,720.