--- title: "Cook Jobs in Merced, CA | Metaintro" canonical: "https://www.metaintro.com/jobs/cook/locations/merced-ca" language: "en" author: "Metaintro" data_as_of: "2026-11-05T05:10:12.320Z" cite_as: "Metaintro job-market data. https://www.metaintro.com/jobs/cook/locations/merced-ca" data: ["https://www.metaintro.com/jobs/cook/locations/merced-ca/data.json"] --- Cook market brief · Merced, CA # Cook Jobs in Merced, CA 31 cook openings are live in the Merced, CA area from 16 employers, led by Wingstop, North Fork Mono Casino, and Olive Garden. The middle half of posted salaries runs $35,152–$41,600 a year (median $41,038), from the 68% of listings that disclose pay. Data updated Nov 5, 2026 [Search live jobs](/jobs/search?q=Cook+jobs+in+Merced%2C+CA)[Browse all Cook markets](/jobs/cook) ## Role and market snapshot A quick read on demand before you open the live listings **Tracked jobs** : 31 : Live cook openings currently tracked in the Merced market. **Companies hiring** : 16 : Distinct employers represented in this publishable market view. **Median compensation** : $41,038 : 68% of listings provide usable compensation data. ## Market analysis Role-specific demand, level, employer, and compensation signals for this local market Start with the level mix, then compare current demand, compensation coverage, and employer concentration before opening the live listings. Level mix ### Career ladder [Entry-level](/jobs/cook/locations/merced-ca/entry-level)8 jobs Mid-level1 jobs Level coverage is 29%. Counts remain visible, but fit guidance stays withheld until at least 60% of listings have a reliable level signal. 30-day window ### Demand and salary Current jobs 31 Hiring employers 16 Salary coverage 68% Median experience 2.0 years Within this market ### Employer tier lens Startups & growing teams 15 8 companies · $40,206 median Established employers 11 4 companies Coverage-gated ### Salary distribution P25 $35,152 P50 $41,038 P75 $41,600 P90 $42,536 Salary figures use annualized USD posted minimum compensation from listings in this market. An employer that posts the same pay on many listings counts once, and figures render only when enough distinct employers disclose pay. Use Metaintro ### Turn this market signal into momentum Move from aggregate demand to the live roles hiring in this market now. - Open live cook listings in Merced - Compare the level mix before narrowing your search - Use employer and compensation signals to prioritize outreach [Search live jobs](/jobs/search?q=Cook+jobs+in+Merced%2C+CA)[Get started free](/signup) ## Turn this market brief into a live search. Use the signal The best next step is opening the roles behind the aggregate: compare cook opportunities in Merced, save the strongest fits, and keep the market signal close while you apply. - 31 live roles tracked in this market. - 16 employers represented in the current window. - Market data refreshed Nov 5, 2026. [Search live jobs](/jobs/search?q=Cook+jobs+in+Merced%2C+CA)[Compare other markets](/jobs/cook) ## A practical market plan for Cook in Merced Use this sequence to move from aggregate labor-market data to a focused application list. 1. 01Read the demand 31 cook openings across 16 employers establish the current Merced opportunity set. 2. 02Choose the right rung Use the live listings to calibrate title, scope, and experience expectations before applying. 3. 03Prioritize employers Wingstop is one of the most active visible employers, with 5 current openings in this market view. 4. 04Open the live roles 24 representative openings connect this brief to jobs you can review now. With Metaintro Keep market research, live opportunities, saved roles, and the evidence behind your applications moving in one focused loop. ## Where this market is hiring Move from the Merced market view into active employers and representative cook openings Employer activity · 16 companies ### Who is hiring in this market The most active visible employers, ordered by openings represented in the current market sample. [![Wingstop logo](/api/company-logo?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwingstop.com%2Ffavicon.ico%3Fv%3D2&sig=dTEP19qvodTvjyV7at2Y0ir5pXxJ_hnOXLneml4IuLI) WingstopEstablished employers5Open roles](/company/wingstop)[![North Fork Mono Casino logo](/api/company-logo?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnorthforkmonocasino.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F11%2Fcropped-NFM%25E2%2580%2594ICON%25E2%2580%2594Black-180x180.png&sig=Bn0MBDkq2Gi-doYdmimYZvWZSACe8kk6xddASjqoVJo) North Fork Mono CasinoEstablished employers4Open roles](/company/northforkmonocasinocareers)[![Olive Garden logo](/api/favicon-proxy?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.olivegarden.com%2Fimages%2Fsite%2FOGlogo_updated.svg) Olive GardenStartups & growing teams4Open roles](/company/olive-garden) Texas Roadhouse Management LLCStartups & growing teams3Open roles [Brinker InternationalTop of market2Open roles](/company/brinker-international)![Compass Group logo](/api/favicon-proxy?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fs2%2Ffavicons%3Fdomain%3Dcompassgroup.com%26sz%3D128) Compass GroupStartups & growing teams2Open roles ![IHOP logo](/api/favicon-proxy?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fs2%2Ffavicons%3Fdomain%3Dihop.com%26sz%3D128) IHOPStartups & growing teams2Open roles [![Angry Chickz logo](/api/company-logo?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstatic.wixstatic.com%2Fmedia%2F6e4af8_4a1da00346da4ee7896a438f42f72e30%257Emv2.png%2Fv1%2Ffill%2Fw_180%252Ch_180%252Clg_1%252Cusm_0.66_1.00_0.01%2F6e4af8_4a1da00346da4ee7896a438f42f72e30%257Emv2.png&sig=Z8xmMAxy0y8IGgvkkkgLvoF5verx8rENW4qjwf51khM) Angry ChickzEstablished employers1Open roles](/company/angrychickz) Live opportunity sample · 24 of 31 matches ### Representative openings Open a role to inspect the full requirements. Compensation appears only when the listing provides usable salary data. [Team Dining Room CookEntry-levelNorth Fork Mono CasinoMadera, California](/job/team-dining-room-cook-at-north-fork-mono-casino-4f0c8eb1-7041-54ac-bc9a-0048a1e198b3)[Team Dining Room Cook (Part-Time)Entry-levelNorth Fork Mono CasinoMadera, California](/job/team-dining-room-cook-part-time-at-north-fork-mono-casino-78baf743-df38-52cb-b02c-9c737052a950)[Line Cook - Merced Chili'sLive roleBrinker InternationalMerced, CaliforniaPosted Nov 4, 2026](/job/line-cook-merced-chilis-at-brinker-international-beec7f11-4a95-5810-90c7-66c3a8b37538)[Line Cook - Pacheco Blvd Chili'sLive roleBrinker InternationalLos Banos, CaliforniaPosted Nov 4, 2026](/job/line-cook-pacheco-blvd-chilis-at-brinker-international-7196883e-e2fe-5ea7-91ef-4f523856ad5f)[Cafeteria Cook/Baker - Burbank Elementary School (This recruitment is only available to MCSD School Nutrition Services substitutes.)Live roleMerced City School DistrictMerced, California$40,476Posted Nov 3, 2026](/job/cafeteria-cook-baker-burbank-elementary-school-this-recruitment-is-9382188a-e4fe-5e6d-8f3c-ed64ecb745a0)[Assistant Cook/Transporter LOC: Cooper Kitchen for Head StartEntry-levelMerced County Office of EducationMerced, California$39,936Posted Nov 2, 2026](/job/assistant-cook-transporter-loc-cooper-kitchen-for-head-start-at-d1ba316d-ba39-560b-a2ab-ef4b3dfec26f)[Sports Grill CookEntry-levelNorth Fork Mono CasinoMadera, California](/job/sports-grill-cook-at-north-fork-mono-casino-20bcb72e-67b5-56c6-bdbc-ee3c39c3a4e0)[Steakhouse CookEntry-levelNorth Fork Mono CasinoMadera, CaliforniaPosted Nov 1, 2026](/job/steakhouse-cook-at-north-fork-mono-casino-3962d9fc-6940-5a94-a491-fbb1de99b882) #### More cook openings in Merced - [Line Cook · Olive Garden](/job/line-cook-at-olive-garden-66d27a49-5a70-53a2-a472-0f19259941cc) - [Prep Cook · Olive Garden](/job/prep-cook-at-olive-garden-11291812-ef7f-5ebf-b4c0-8143586c1cbf) - [Line Cook · Olive Garden](/job/line-cook-at-olive-garden-bc8c43c9-0541-5afd-b1ee-0f9547b6b51e) - [Prep Cook · Olive Garden](/job/prep-cook-at-olive-garden-caf8a570-614a-5f33-9dcb-a6607ebe4b37) - [Cook · Madera Rehabilitation & Nursing Center](/job/cook-at-madera-rehabilitation-and-nursing-center-0ebcde3c-455f-58c5-b47d-b91eebf8cade) - [Ceres - Cook · Angry Chickz](/job/ceres-cook-at-angrychickz-0ab620c8-a274-599f-a22c-6e08cc3b70dc) - [Cook · Wingstop](/job/cook-at-wingstop-b07f76b6-72e5-5b99-a734-4c4963a76880) - [Cook · IHOP](/job/cook-at-ihop-53753d55-1809-5f51-ba50-1e9f5a63eeca) - [Cook · IHOP](/job/cook-at-ihop-cdc39e3e-c724-564b-9778-dc108875953c) - [Cook · Wingstop](/job/cook-at-wingstop-1d374ba9-b089-52fe-beb4-5ab0572c57fb) - [Cook · Wingstop](/job/cook-at-wingstop-32cb3a24-f671-51b7-afa9-1bc91081f992) - [Cook · Wingstop](/job/cook-at-wingstop-b8cccd77-9142-5491-85d6-e3ebdebfb2a3) - [Cook · Wingstop](/job/cook-at-wingstop-e1475ef8-90fc-52ab-8041-1a7ee41c540f) - [COOK (PART TIME) · Compass Group](/job/cook-part-time-at-compass-group-ef97ebc5-662b-56fa-a918-0f39b2eb07df) - [SENIOR COOK (FULL TIME AND PART TIME) · Compass Group](/job/senior-cook-full-time-and-part-time-at-compass-group-fc425a15-b239-574e-9b8e-9fb621b52b9a) - [Heart of House Cook · Buffalo Wild Wings](/job/heart-of-house-cook-at-burger-king-06b2762a-84a0-57f4-9f80-2eb711904f7d) [Explore all 31 matching jobs](/jobs/search?q=Cook+jobs+in+Merced%2C+CA) ## Cook jobs in Merced: what applicants need to know Current answers for a difficult AI-era job search, grounded in this publishable role and location market view rather than generic career advice. 1. 01### How many cook jobs are open in Merced? Metaintro tracks 31 live cook openings from 16 employers in the Merced, CA area over the last 30 days. 2. 02### What do cook jobs in Merced pay? The median posted salary is $41,038 a year. The middle half of posted salaries runs $35,152 to $41,600. Based on the 68% of current listings that disclose pay. 3. 03### Which companies are hiring for cook jobs in Merced? Wingstop, North Fork Mono Casino, Olive Garden, and Texas Roadhouse Management LLC have the most open cook roles here right now, out of 16 hiring employers. ## Continue with the next market signal Compare nearby cities, adjacent roles, and publishable level views without leaving the live jobs cluster Nearby cities Compare Cook demand around Merced. [Fresno, CA](/jobs/cook/locations/fresno-ca)[Stockton, CA](/jobs/cook/locations/stockton-ca)[San Jose, CA](/jobs/cook/locations/san-jose-ca)[Salinas, CA](/jobs/cook/locations/salinas-ca)[Oakland, CA](/jobs/cook/locations/oakland-ca)[Sacramento, CA](/jobs/cook/locations/sacramento-ca) Related roles See adjacent role demand in the Merced market. [Server](/jobs/server/locations/merced-ca)[Hospitality Manager](/jobs/hospitality-manager/locations/merced-ca)[Barista](/jobs/barista/locations/merced-ca)[All roles in Merced](/jobs/locations/merced-ca) Level views Narrow the market to experience levels with enough reliable data. [Entry-level Cook](/jobs/cook/locations/merced-ca/entry-level) Built for career movement ## Turn the Merced cook market into your next move. Use live demand, employer, level, and compensation signals to focus your cook search where the market is active now. [Search live jobs](/jobs/search?q=Cook+jobs+in+Merced%2C+CA)[Get started free](/signup) - MatchCompare live roles against your current evidence. - PositionTurn proof projects into role-specific applications. - ImproveUse market feedback to keep the skill plan current. [Return to navigation](#main-navigation)