Modesto, CA · SOC 35-1011

Chefs and Head Cooks in Modesto

Metro area salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025)

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Median Salary

$61,330

per year in Modesto

2% below

National Median

$62,470

per year nationally

Hourly Rate

$29.48/hr

median hourly

Employment

170

jobs in Modesto

BLS metro-level wage data places Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Modesto, CA at a median of $61,330 per year ($29.48/hr/hour), drawn from the OEWS May 2025 release for this Metropolitan Statistical Area. Compared to the national median of $62,470, Modesto pays 2% below, which typically tracks with a lower local cost of living or smaller specialized-employer cluster. Approximately 170 chefs and head cookss are employed across the Modesto MSA in SOC 35-1011.

The Modesto pay distribution spans from $37,600 at the 10th percentile to $98,630 at the 90th — a 2.6× spread that reflects experience tenure, specialization, employer size, and the difference between public-sector, nonprofit, and private-sector compensation inside the metro. The 25th percentile sits at $44,290 and the 75th at $79,730, so half of Modesto-based chefs and head cookss earn within that middle band.

Metro figures capture where you actually work, not just where you live — which matters for commuters. BLS draws metro boundaries from the OMB MSA definitions, so Modesto, CA covers the central city plus outlying counties tied to the metro economically. Remember that OEWS wages reflect base pay only: employer-provided health insurance, retirement matches, stock options, signing bonuses, overtime, and tips are excluded and can add 20-40% to real total compensation. Before using this metro median as a negotiation anchor, triangulate against the same occupation's national profile (linked below), its state-wide CA data, and peer-metro comparisons — a median is a starting point, not a ceiling.

Salary Range in Modesto

Annual Salary Distribution

$37,600$44,290$61,330$79,730$98,630
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

10th Percentile

$37,600

25th Percentile

$44,290

Median

$61,330

75th Percentile

$79,730

90th Percentile

$98,630

Top Paying Jobs in Modesto

Similar Occupations in Modesto

Other roles inside the Modesto, CA MSA from the same SOC major group.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Chefs and Head Cooks make in Modesto?
The median annual salary for Chefs and Head Cooks in Modesto, CA is $61,330 ($29.48/hour). The salary range spans from $37,600 at the 10th percentile to $98,630 at the 90th percentile.
Is Modesto a good place to work as a Chefs and Head Cooks?
Chefs and Head Cooks in Modesto, CA earns 2% below the national median of $62,470. There are approximately 170 Chefs and Head Cooks jobs in this metro area.

Last updated: May 2025 (BLS OEWS annual release). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025.

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