SOC 51-3091 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders — Modesto
Modesto, CA · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders in Modesto, CA is $61,130 per year, well above the national median of $44,810.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders in Modesto, CA is $61,130 per year, well above the national median of $44,810. The gap of 36.4% is among the widest recorded for this occupation. Half of workers earn between $48,690 and $61,130. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $36,670 and the ninetieth at $67,250.
The area has 70 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.4 of every thousand jobs. Within the state, Sacramento records the highest median at $56,270. Of the 398 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 208th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,670 | −18.2% |
| 25th | $48,690 | +8.7% |
| Median (50th) | $61,130 | +36.4% |
| 75th | $61,130 | +36.4% |
| 90th | $67,250 | +50.1% |
| Mean | $55,730 | +24.4% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sacramento | $56,270 | 100 | |
| 2 | Hanford | $51,160 | 40 | |
| 3 | San Francisco | $50,680 | 120 | |
| 4 | Riverside | $48,570 | 120 | |
| 5 | Salinas | $46,650 | 300 | |
| 6 | Vallejo | $44,420 | 30 | |
| 7 | Visalia | $44,010 | 40 | |
| 8 | Los Angeles | $43,940 | 320 | |
| 9 | Merced | $42,130 | 60 | |
| 10 | Fresno | $39,420 | 90 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Modesto run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $61,130 buys what $55,221 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 23.2% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$61,130as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$55,221US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $61,130 a year, 36.4% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $36,670 to $67,250 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 70 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Sacramento, at $56,270.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders in Modesto, CA?
The median annual wage is $61,130, or $29.39 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $44,810, so pay in Modesto, CA is 36.4% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Modesto, CA earns more than $67,250 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $36,670 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Sacramento, at $56,270 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 70 jobs in this occupation in Modesto, CA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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