Salary guide, May 2025
Food Process Operator pay in Merced, CA
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The median annual wage for Food Processing Workers, All Other in Merced, CA was $42,430 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $36,730 and $55,590.
The Merced, CA median is $2,750 above the national median of $39,680, both from BLS May 2025.
Broader occupation · SOC 51-3099 Food Processing Workers, All Other
The Food Process Operator title maps to the published occupation. BLS does not separate this process, credential, shift or plant-specific title from other work in the occupation.
What should you know about merced, CA?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $34,320 | $36,730 | $42,430 | $55,590 | $64,760 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $16.50 | $17.66 | $20.40 | $26.73 | $31.14 |
BLS estimated 60 workers employed in this occupation in Merced, CA. Location quotient: 1.69.
What should you know about united States?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $32,210 | $36,410 | $39,680 | $44,130 | $47,950 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $15.49 | $17.51 | $19.08 | $21.22 | $23.05 |
What should you know about role pay against all occupations here?
The published Food Process Operator median is $42,430. The all-occupations median in Merced, CA is $47,220. Ratio: 0.90 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 1.69 measures how concentrated this occupation's employment is here against the nation. It is not a wage index.
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $33,280 | $38,270 | $48,150 |
| May 2025 | $36,730 | $42,430 | $55,590 |
These are two separate BLS estimates from different survey panels. The workers and employers behind them differ, so the gap is not like-for-like pay for the same workers and is not a growth rate. We show no percentage change.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 51-3099 Food Processing Workers, All Other, Merced, CA. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 51-3099 Food Processing Workers, All Other, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
What should you know about nearby areas?
| Area | Median | 25th to 75th |
|---|---|---|
| Modesto, CA | $39,040 | $36,620 to $51,160 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $43,200 | $43,200 to $44,780 |
All roles in Merced, CA · National page · Food Process Operator ranked across metros