SOC 51-3092 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Batchmakers — Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA · 10 metro areas compared
At $39,090, median pay for Food Batchmakers in Santa Cruz, CA tracks the national median of $42,290 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $39,090, median pay for Food Batchmakers in Santa Cruz, CA tracks the national median of $42,290 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $37,160 and $45,560. The lowest tenth earn under $36,050, while the highest tenth earn more than $51,110.
Employment stands at 60, or 0.6 jobs per thousand held locally. Modesto leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $46,670. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 304th of 328 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,050 | −14.8% |
| 25th | $37,160 | −12.1% |
| Median (50th) | $39,090 | −7.6% |
| 75th | $45,560 | +7.7% |
| 90th | $51,110 | +20.9% |
| Mean | $41,730 | −1.3% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Modesto | $46,670 | 360 | |
| 2 | San Jose | $45,920 | 420 | |
| 3 | Merced | $45,760 | 170 | |
| 4 | Santa Rosa | $45,590 | 250 | |
| 5 | Hanford | $45,360 | 70 | |
| 6 | San Francisco | $45,300 | 1,760 | |
| 7 | Stockton | $44,580 | 240 | |
| 8 | Napa | $43,510 | 80 | |
| 9 | Visalia | $42,680 | 780 | |
| 10 | Los Angeles | $38,930 | 4,130 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Santa Cruz run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $39,090 buys what $35,312 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 16.5% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$39,090as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$35,312US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $39,090 a year, 7.6% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $36,050 to $51,110 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 60 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Modesto, at $46,670.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food Batchmakers in Santa Cruz, CA?
The median annual wage is $39,090, or $18.80 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 $42,290, so pay in Santa Cruz, CA is 7.6% lower. 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 Santa Cruz, CA earns more than $51,110 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $36,050 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 Modesto, at $46,670 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 60 jobs in this occupation in Santa Cruz, 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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