Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Modesto, CA

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

Median annual salary $38,770 +5.3% vs national
Median hourly $18.64
10th percentile $36,250
90th percentile $47,270
Employed locally 1,550
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
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Modesto, CA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $36,250
    25th
    $37,470
    50th (median)
    $38,770
    75th
    $44,920
    90th
    $47,270

    Modesto economic context

    Unemployment rate 6.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $79,661 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 49% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 51% 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 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
    Food Preparation Workers$36,320
    Dishwashers$35,400

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Modesto, CA is $18.64, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $22.62 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Modesto, CA is 5.3% 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 Modesto?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $36,250 per year in Modesto, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $37,470.