Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders Salary in Merced, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Merced, CA

Median annual salary $46,530 +14.7% vs national
Median hourly $22.37
10th percentile $42,380
90th percentile $49,830
Employed locally 40
National median $40,550

Compare Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary & buying power

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Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders
in
Merced, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $42,380
    25th
    $43,460
    50th (median)
    $46,530
    75th
    $47,790
    90th
    $49,830

    Merced economic context

    Unemployment rate 9.80% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $65,044 2023 • Census ACS
    Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary vs area income 72% Median Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary is 28% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Modesto, CA $80,310
    Cedar Rapids, IA $63,690
    Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area $62,910
    Central East New York nonmetropolitan area $60,250
    Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area $59,140
    Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $55,870

    Nearby metros — Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Modesto, CA $80,310
    Fresno, CA $46,430
    Visalia, CA $45,880
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $45,730
    Stockton-Lodi, CA $45,190
    California $44,720

    Related occupations in Merced, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Slaughterers and Meat Packers$38,660
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$45,050
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$76,730
    Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers$35,070
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$46,110
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$48,710

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders make per hour in Merced?

    The median hourly wage for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Merced, CA is $22.37, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $23.96 or more per hour.

    Is Merced above or below average for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salaries?

    The median Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in Merced, CA is 14.7% above the national median of $40,550. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Merced?

    Entry-level Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders (10th percentile) earn around $42,380 per year in Merced, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $43,460.