Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Merced, CA

The median chefs and head cooks in Merced, CA earns $57,500 a year, 8% below the US median. After tax that is roughly $3,696 a month.

10th percentile: $35,140
25th percentile: $42,240
Median percentile: $57,500
75th percentile: $86,830
90th percentile: $98,900

Based on 90 employed. Data period: BLS OEWS May 2025. Percentiles show the spread of pay, not experience; reading the 25th percentile as "entry level" is only an approximation.

What you keep

$44,356 take-home a year

Gross pay	$57,500
Federal income tax	−$4,720
Social Security + Medicare	−$4,399
California income tax (approx.)	−$4,025
Monthly take-home	$3,696
Every two weeks	$1,706

Does it go far here?

$58,509Median pay in Merced, CA is worth this at average US prices (local price level 98.3 vs 100).

36%of take-home pay goes to the median rent ($1,343 a month, Census ACS).

Top-paying jobs in Merced, CA

Job	Median pay
Registered Nurses	$131,620
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education	$100,120
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education	$99,600
General and Operations Managers	$94,990
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers	$68,070
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term	$60,770
Child, Family, and School Social Workers	$60,200
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General	$56,700

All chefs and head cooks salaries · Take-home pay in California