How much does a food preparation and serving related worker make in Merced?
$34,720a year
Median yearly pay for food preparation and serving related workers in the Merced, CA metro area. That is $16.69 an hour or $2,893 a month.
- Hourly
- $16.69
- Vs. national median
- -3%
- Rank among cities
- 74 of 171
- Jobs in the area
- 60
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $34,320Median: $34,720Highest 10%: $42,290
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,320 | $16.50 | |
| 25th | $34,590 | $16.63 | |
| Median | $34,720 | $16.69 | |
| 75th | $41,150 | $19.78 | |
| 90th | $42,290 | $20.33 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for food preparation and serving related workers.
| San Jose, CA | $44,720 |
| San Francisco, CA | $41,970 |
| Napa, CA | $39,080 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $38,910 |
| Redding, CA | $38,770 |
| Fresno, CA | $37,760 |
| Vallejo, CA | $37,330 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $36,810 |
| Salinas, CA | $36,440 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $36,360 |
| Sacramento, CA | $36,350 |
| San Diego, CA | $36,330 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $36,120 |
| Modesto, CA | $35,760 |
| Stockton, CA | $35,690 |
| Oxnard, CA | $35,490 |
| Visalia, CA | $35,350 |
| Riverside, CA | $35,260 |
| Chico, CA | $34,950 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $34,560 |
Related jobs in Merced
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $57,500 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $45,490 |
| Cook | $44,410 |
| Cook | $40,430 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $38,980 |
| Cook | $38,480 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $38,200 |
| Cook | $36,240 |
| Dishwasher | $35,210 |
| Host and Hostess | $34,690 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation and serving related worker make an hour in Merced?
The median hourly pay in the Merced, CA metro area is $16.69 ($34,720 a year).
Do food preparation and serving related workers make more in Merced than the national average?
No: $34,720 against $35,840 nationally, 3% less.
How does Merced compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $36,910, so Merced pays 6% less.
Where does Merced rank for food preparation and serving related worker pay?
74 of 171 metro areas with data.
How much does a food preparation and serving related worker make starting out in Merced?
The lowest-paid 10% make $34,320 or less a year; the top 10% make $42,290 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.