Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Merced
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,100 a year or less, while the top 10% make $58,820 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Merced earn between $38,700 and $48,020.
- $37K10th
- $39K25th
- $44KMedian
- $48K75th
- $59K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $45,000 | $3,750 | $21.63 |
| Median | $44,410 | $3,701 | $21.35 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $38,700 | $3,225 | $18.61 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $48,020 | $4,002 | $23.09 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Merced vs. California and the U.S.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria in Merced earn 6% less than the California average ($47,900) and 16% more than the U.S. average ($38,810). At the median the gap is +19% against the U.S. median of $37,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merced | $45,000 | $44,410 | $37,100 | $58,820 | 190 |
| California | $47,900 | $46,390 | $37,570 | $59,630 | 31,660 |
| United States | $38,810 | $37,450 | $28,480 | $49,670 | 441,050 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary after taxes in Merced
On the average salary of $45,000, a single filer in Merced takes home about $37,402 a year, or $3,117 a month and $1,439 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Merced a good place for cooks, institution and cafeteria? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Merced area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.3), so the average $45,000 buys what about $45,790 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Merced ($47,220). A typical home costs $419,171, or 9.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other California cities
Merced ranks 19th of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($54,290).
- San Jose$54,290
- San Francisco$52,440
- Vallejo$50,500
- Napa$50,320
- Santa Cruz$49,350
- Santa Maria$49,070
- Santa Rosa$49,000
- San Diego$48,170
- Salinas$48,160
- Merced$45,000
Highest-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($57,770).
- Kahului, HI$57,770
- San Jose, CA$54,290
- Seattle, WA$53,820
- Barnstable, MA$52,850
- San Francisco, CA$52,440
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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Merced: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Merced?
$21.63 an hour on average, and $21.35 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Merced?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,100 a year and the 25th percentile is $38,700, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Merced?
About $37,402 a year ($3,117 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $45,000. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more in Merced than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% more than the U.S. average for this job ($38,810).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-2012; area Merced, CA (32900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.83, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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