Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Modesto, CA
Cooks, Restaurant in the Modesto, CA metro area earn a median $41,910 a year — 12% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $34,644 take-home, or $2,887 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Modesto, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,849
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,598
- Medicare (1.45%)$608
- California income tax$666
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$545
- Take-home pay$34,644
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Modesto, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,680 | $17.63 | $30,719 | $2,560 |
| 25th percentile | $37,600 | $18.08 | $31,409 | $2,617 |
| Median (50th) | $41,910 | $20.15 | $34,644 | $2,887 |
| 75th percentile | $45,750 | $22.00 | $37,526 | $3,127 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,040 | $22.62 | $38,493 | $3,208 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $41,910 buys in Modesto, CA
Prices in Modesto, CA are 4.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.08× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $34,644 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,277 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cooks, Restaurant jobs are less concentrated in Modesto, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.74), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Modesto, CA ranks #78 of 327 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $44,390 | $37,847 | $39,612 |
| 2 | Mount Vernon, WA | $46,450 | $39,503 | $38,561 |
| 3 | Kennewick, WA | $45,280 | $38,562 | $38,532 |
| 4 | Barnstable Town, MA | $46,930 | $37,762 | $38,395 |
| 5 | Spokane, WA | $44,230 | $37,719 | $37,589 |
| 6 | Bremerton, WA | $46,460 | $39,511 | $37,413 |
| 7 | Bellingham, WA | $45,370 | $38,635 | $37,388 |
| 8 | Pittsfield, MA | $43,970 | $35,531 | $37,360 |
| 78 | Modesto, CA | $41,910 | $34,644 | $33,277 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 327 metros →
Cooks, Restaurant salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $47,170
- Santa Rosa, CA — $45,720
- Napa, CA — $47,320
- Sacramento, CA — $44,230
- San Diego, CA — $46,440
- Salinas, CA — $44,930
- Vallejo, CA — $44,100
- Santa Cruz, CA — $44,560
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Modesto, CA?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Modesto, CA metro area is $41,910 a year, or about $20.15 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,600 and $45,750.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Modesto, CA?
On the median $41,910 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $34,644 a year ($2,887 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,211 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Modesto, CA a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 12% above the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 4.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,277 would in a typical U.S. city. Modesto, CA ranks #78 of 327 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Modesto, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Modesto, CA is $1,356 a month ($1,758 for two bedrooms) — 47% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Modesto, CA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $46,190
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $42,630
- Cooks, Fast Food — $42,510
- Food Preparation Worker — $38,450
- Dishwasher — $36,810
- Bartender — $35,100
- Waiter and Waitress — $34,910
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $34,870