Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Merced, CA

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

Median annual salary $37,740 +2.5% vs national
Median hourly $18.14
10th percentile $34,360
90th percentile $46,430
Employed locally 500
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
in
Merced, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $34,360
    25th
    $35,840
    50th (median)
    $37,740
    75th
    $42,990
    90th
    $46,430

    Merced economic context

    Unemployment rate 9.80% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $65,044 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 58% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 42% below the area median household income

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Merced, CA is $18.14, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $22.84 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Merced, CA is 2.5% 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 Merced?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $34,360 per year in Merced, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $35,840.