Baker salary in Merced, CA
Bakers in the Merced, CA metro area earn a median of $42,900 a year ($20.63 an hour), based on BLS data for 110 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,070 for the lowest-paid 10% to $53,550 for the top 10%. That is 15% higher than the national median of $37,160. Pay here is 1% lower than the California statewide median of $43,120. There are 1.4 bakers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $43,430, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bakers in Merced, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,070 | $16.86 |
| 25th percentile | $37,930 | $18.24 |
| Median | $42,900 | $20.63 |
| 75th percentile | $45,720 | $21.98 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $53,550 | $25.75 |
| Average (mean) | $43,430 | $20.88 |
Half of bakers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,575 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,787.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,650 |
| Weekly | $825 |
| Hourly | $20.63 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Baker salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $46,600 | 4,820 |
| Napa, CA | $46,360 | 170 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $45,480 | 1,240 |
| Vallejo, CA | $44,970 | 300 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $44,650 | 560 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $43,760 | 490 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $43,630 | 400 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $43,080 | 2,200 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $42,920 | 310 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $42,910 | 1,520 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $42,470 | 640 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $42,180 | 350 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $41,790 | 2,900 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $41,380 | 720 |
| Salinas, CA | $41,310 | 410 |
| El Centro, CA | $40,580 | 60 |
| Chico, CA | $40,000 | 120 |
| Yuba City, CA | $39,580 | 60 |
| Modesto, CA | $39,450 | 400 |
| Fresno, CA | $39,260 | 640 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $39,260 | 10,580 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $39,220 | 40 |
| Visalia, CA | $38,750 | 240 |
| Redding, CA | $37,140 | 100 |
Highest-paying states for bakers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $46,710 |
| Washington | $46,140 |
| District of Columbia | $44,040 |
| California | $43,120 |
| Colorado | $40,650 |
| Minnesota | $40,210 |
| Wyoming | $40,000 |
| Vermont | $39,980 |
| Alaska | $39,710 |
| Nevada | $39,540 |
See Baker pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Merced, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $35,070 | $16.86 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $39,130 | $18.81 |
| Food Batchmaker | $45,760 | $22.00 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $42,130 | $20.26 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $42,430 | $20.40 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $45,280 | $21.77 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $78,490 | $37.74 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $47,640 | $22.90 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $50,340 | $24.20 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $61,920 | $29.77 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $49,940 | $24.01 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $63,550 | $30.56 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $38,880 | $18.69 |
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $76,790 | $36.92 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-3011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a baker make in Merced, CA?
The median salary for bakers in the Merced, CA metro area is $42,900 a year, or $20.63 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,070 for the lowest-paid 10% to $53,550 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bakers make in Merced, CA?
The top 10% of bakers in the Merced, CA metro area earn at least $53,550 a year. The top 25% earn $45,720 or more.
What is the starting pay for bakers in Merced, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,070 a year, and a quarter of bakers earn $37,930 or less.
How many bakers work in Merced, CA?
About 110 bakers are employed in the Merced, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.