Food Preparation Workers pay range in Merced
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,320 a year or less, while the top 10% make $47,110 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Merced earn between $34,900 and $42,910.
- $34K10th
- $35K25th
- $39KMedian
- $43K75th
- $47K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $40,150 | $3,346 | $19.30 |
| Median | $38,980 | $3,248 | $18.74 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $34,900 | $2,908 | $16.78 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $42,910 | $3,576 | $20.63 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Merced vs. California and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Merced earn 3% less than the California average ($41,480) and 14% more than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is +10% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merced | $40,150 | $38,980 | $34,320 | $47,110 | 460 |
| California | $41,480 | $39,350 | $35,190 | $48,470 | 112,750 |
| United States | $35,290 | $35,320 | $25,810 | $45,340 | 893,600 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Food Preparation Workers salary after taxes in Merced
On the average salary of $40,150, a single filer in Merced takes home about $33,699 a year, or $2,808 a month and $1,296 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Merced a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Merced area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.3), so the average $40,150 buys what about $40,855 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Merced ($47,220). A typical home costs $419,171, or 10.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other California cities
Merced ranks 20th of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($45,660).
- San Jose$45,660
- Napa$44,240
- Santa Rosa$43,450
- San Francisco$43,290
- Santa Cruz$42,060
- Vallejo$41,390
- San Luis Obispo$41,340
- Los Angeles$41,220
- Salinas$41,130
- Merced$40,150
Highest-paying cities for food preparation workers
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($48,150).
- Kahului, HI$48,150
- San Jose, CA$45,660
- Seattle, WA$44,390
- Napa, CA$44,240
- Santa Rosa, CA$43,450
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Food Preparation Workers salary in Merced: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Merced?
$19.30 an hour on average, and $18.74 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Merced?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,320 a year and the 25th percentile is $34,900, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Merced?
About $33,699 a year ($2,808 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $40,150. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Merced than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% more than the U.S. average for this job ($35,290).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-2021; area Merced, CA (32900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.1%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.02, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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