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
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Merced, CA
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    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

    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 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
    Food Preparation Workers $35,140
    Dishwashers $34,260

    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.