Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Modesto, CA
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the Modesto, CA metro area earn a median of $45,480 a year ($21.86 an hour), based on BLS data for 330 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,700 for the top 10%. That is 21% higher than the national median of $37,450. Pay here is 2% lower than the California statewide median of $46,390. There are 1.7 cooks, institution and cafeteria per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.59). The average (mean) salary is $46,530, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Modesto, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,390 | $17.98 |
| 25th percentile | $39,330 | $18.91 |
| Median | $45,480 | $21.86 |
| 75th percentile | $50,010 | $24.04 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $57,700 | $27.74 |
| Average (mean) | $46,530 | $22.37 |
Half of cooks, institution and cafeteria 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 | $3,790 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,895 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,749.23 |
| Weekly | $874.62 |
| Hourly | $21.86 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $51,880 | 2,640 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $49,140 | 4,280 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $48,210 | 430 |
| Napa, CA | $48,060 | 130 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $47,310 | 80 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $47,260 | 420 |
| Vallejo, CA | $47,130 | 270 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $47,100 | 3,070 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $46,850 | 250 |
| Salinas, CA | $46,820 | 350 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $45,400 | 9,860 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $45,020 | 1,780 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $44,970 | 340 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $44,570 | 610 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $44,470 | 2,540 |
| Merced, CA | $44,410 | 190 |
| Redding, CA | $44,250 | 200 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $43,950 | 400 |
| Yuba City, CA | $43,940 | 120 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $43,910 | 510 |
| Fresno, CA | $42,580 | 900 |
| Visalia, CA | $41,820 | 280 |
| Chico, CA | $41,380 | 140 |
| El Centro, CA | $40,980 | 70 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, institution and cafeteria
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $49,670 |
| Alaska | $48,580 |
| Massachusetts | $47,790 |
| Hawaii | $47,770 |
| Rhode Island | $46,570 |
| California | $46,390 |
| Vermont | $46,370 |
| Connecticut | $46,120 |
| New York | $45,880 |
| District of Columbia | $45,450 |
See Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Modesto, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Fast Food | $42,510 | $20.44 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $41,910 | $20.15 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $38,450 | $18.49 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $38,260 | $18.40 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $42,630 | $20.50 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $34,910 | $16.79 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,190 | $22.21 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $34,870 | $16.77 |
| Bartender | $35,100 | $16.88 |
| Dishwasher | $36,810 | $17.70 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $35,030 | $16.84 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $38,010 | $18.28 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $35,760 | $17.19 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $61,330 | $29.48 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Modesto, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2012. 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 cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Modesto, CA?
The median salary for cooks, institution and cafeteria in the Modesto, CA metro area is $45,480 a year, or $21.86 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,700 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Modesto, CA?
The top 10% of cooks, institution and cafeteria in the Modesto, CA metro area earn at least $57,700 a year. The top 25% earn $50,010 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Modesto, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,390 a year, and a quarter of cooks, institution and cafeteria earn $39,330 or less.
How many cooks, institution and cafeteria work in Modesto, CA?
About 330 cooks, institution and cafeteria are employed in the Modesto, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.