How much does a food preparation worker make in Merced?
$38,980a year
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers in the Merced, CA metro area. That is $18.74 an hour or $3,248 a month.
- Hourly
- $18.74
- Vs. national median
- +10%
- Rank among cities
- 17 of 393
- Jobs in the area
- 460
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $34,320Median: $38,980Highest 10%: $47,110
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,320 | $16.50 | |
| 25th | $34,900 | $16.78 | |
| Median | $38,980 | $18.74 | |
| 75th | $42,910 | $20.63 | |
| 90th | $47,110 | $22.65 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers.
| San Jose, CA | $45,580 |
| Napa, CA | $42,810 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $42,640 |
| San Francisco, CA | $41,000 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $39,770 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $39,110 |
| Vallejo, CA | $38,840 |
| San Diego, CA | $38,780 |
| El Centro, CA | $38,610 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $38,550 |
| Sacramento, CA | $38,480 |
| Salinas, CA | $38,480 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $38,470 |
| Modesto, CA | $38,450 |
| Riverside, CA | $38,420 |
| Yuba City, CA | $37,740 |
| Fresno, CA | $37,730 |
| Oxnard, CA | $37,680 |
| Stockton, CA | $37,550 |
| Chico, CA | $37,510 |
| Hanford, CA | $37,430 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $37,090 |
| Visalia, CA | $37,020 |
| Redding, CA | $36,400 |
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 |
| Cook | $38,480 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $38,200 |
| Cook | $36,240 |
| Dishwasher | $35,210 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $34,720 |
| Host and Hostess | $34,690 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make an hour in Merced?
The median hourly pay in the Merced, CA metro area is $18.74 ($38,980 a year).
Do food preparation workers make more in Merced than the national average?
Yes: $38,980 against $35,320 nationally, 10% more.
How does Merced compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $39,350, so Merced pays 1% less.
Where does Merced rank for food preparation worker pay?
17 of 393 metro areas with data.
How much does a food preparation worker make starting out in Merced?
The lowest-paid 10% make $34,320 or less a year; the top 10% make $47,110 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.