Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Merced, CA
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Merced, CA metro area earn a median of $57,500 a year ($27.64 an hour), based on BLS data for 90 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,140 for the lowest-paid 10% to $98,900 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $62,470. Pay here is 11% lower than the California statewide median of $64,500. There are 1.1 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $65,520, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Merced, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,140 | $16.89 |
| 25th percentile | $42,240 | $20.31 |
| Median | $57,500 | $27.64 |
| 75th percentile | $86,830 | $41.75 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $98,900 | $47.55 |
| Average (mean) | $65,520 | $31.50 |
Half of chefs and head cooks earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,791.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,395.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,211.54 |
| Weekly | $1,105.77 |
| Hourly | $27.64 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $79,020 | 1,280 |
| Napa, CA | $78,960 | 300 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $73,570 | 460 |
| Salinas, CA | $72,440 | 360 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $69,990 | 11,430 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $68,970 | 5,340 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $65,060 | 520 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $64,480 | 2,770 |
| Vallejo, CA | $63,230 | 170 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $62,620 | 480 |
| Fresno, CA | $61,870 | 490 |
| Modesto, CA | $61,330 | 170 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $60,600 | 3,890 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $59,400 | 270 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $59,190 | 200 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $57,870 | 1,630 |
| Visalia, CA | $57,600 | 160 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $57,220 | 290 |
| Redding, CA | $56,550 | 70 |
| Chico, CA | $55,990 | 110 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $55,210 | 320 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $45,800 | 60 |
| Yuba City, CA | $44,340 | 70 |
Highest-paying states for chefs and head cooks
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $79,930 |
| Hawaii | $77,360 |
| District of Columbia | $76,420 |
| Washington | $76,010 |
| North Dakota | $74,740 |
| New Jersey | $74,280 |
| Wyoming | $73,170 |
| South Carolina | $71,860 |
| New York | $70,670 |
| Tennessee | $69,810 |
See Chefs and Head Cooks pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Merced, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $45,490 | $21.87 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $38,200 | $18.37 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $40,430 | $19.44 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $38,980 | $18.74 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,480 | $18.50 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $44,410 | $21.35 |
| Bartender | $34,680 | $16.67 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| Dishwasher | $35,210 | $16.93 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $36,240 | $17.43 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $34,690 | $16.68 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $34,720 | $16.69 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Merced, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chefs and head cooks make in Merced, CA?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in the Merced, CA metro area is $57,500 a year, or $27.64 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,140 for the lowest-paid 10% to $98,900 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Merced, CA?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in the Merced, CA metro area earn at least $98,900 a year. The top 25% earn $86,830 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Merced, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,140 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $42,240 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Merced, CA?
About 90 chefs and head cooks are employed in the Merced, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.