SOC 35-2021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Preparation Workers — Merced
Merced, CA · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Food Preparation Workers in Merced, CA is $38,980 per year, 10.4% above the national median of $35,320.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Food Preparation Workers in Merced, CA is $38,980 per year, 10.4% above the national median of $35,320. Pay ranges from under $34,320 at the tenth percentile to more than $47,110 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $34,900 to $42,910.
The area has 460 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 5.8 of every thousand jobs. San Jose leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $45,580. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 234th of 272 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,320 | −2.8% |
| 25th | $34,900 | −1.2% |
| Median (50th) | $38,980 | +10.4% |
| 75th | $42,910 | +21.5% |
| 90th | $47,110 | +33.4% |
| Mean | $40,150 | +13.7% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose | $45,580 | 5,930 | |
| 2 | Napa | $42,810 | 620 | |
| 3 | Santa Rosa | $42,640 | 1,410 | |
| 4 | San Francisco | $41,000 | 14,470 | |
| 5 | Los Angeles | $39,770 | 44,930 | |
| 6 | Santa Cruz | $39,110 | 830 | |
| 7 | Vallejo | $38,840 | 930 | |
| 8 | San Diego | $38,780 | 9,360 | |
| 9 | El Centro | $38,610 | 320 | |
| 10 | San Luis Obispo | $38,550 | 900 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Merced run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $38,980 buys what $35,212 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 0.3% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$38,980as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$35,212US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $38,980 a year, 10.4% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $34,320 to $47,110 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 460 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Jose, at $45,580.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food Preparation Workers in Merced, CA?
The median annual wage is $38,980, or $18.74 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 $35,320, so pay in Merced, CA is 10.4% 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 Merced, CA earns more than $47,110 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $34,320 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 San Jose, at $45,580 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 460 jobs in this occupation in Merced, 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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