Food Batchmaker salary in California
Food Batchmakers in California earn a median of $41,670 a year ($20.03 an hour), based on BLS data for 12,560 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,700 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,010 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $42,290. California ranks 16th of 50 states for food batchmakers pay. There are 0.69 food batchmakers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.61). The average (mean) salary is $43,750, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food batchmakers in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,700 | $17.16 |
| 25th percentile | $37,330 | $17.95 |
| Median | $41,670 | $20.03 |
| 75th percentile | $46,690 | $22.45 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,010 | $27.89 |
| Average (mean) | $43,750 | $21.04 |
Half of food batchmakers 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 | $3,472.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,736.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,602.69 |
| Weekly | $801.35 |
| Hourly | $20.03 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Food Batchmaker salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Modesto, CA | $46,670 | 360 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $45,920 | 420 |
| Merced, CA | $45,760 | 170 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $45,590 | 250 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $45,360 | 70 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $45,300 | 1,760 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $44,580 | 240 |
| Napa, CA | $43,510 | 80 |
| Visalia, CA | $42,680 | 780 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $39,090 | 60 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $38,930 | 4,130 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $38,830 | 1,190 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $38,750 | 100 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $38,640 | 630 |
| Vallejo, CA | $38,580 | 310 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $38,280 | 270 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $37,990 | 470 |
| Fresno, CA | $37,980 | 360 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $37,580 | 100 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $37,550 | 190 |
| Salinas, CA | $36,790 | 230 |
Highest-paying states for food batchmakers
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Baker | $43,120 | $20.73 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $44,290 | $21.29 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $36,570 | $17.58 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $38,230 | $18.38 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $39,420 | $18.95 |
| Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,740 | $21.51 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $45,600 | $21.93 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $47,720 | $22.94 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $54,300 | $26.11 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $76,840 | $36.94 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,020 | $21.16 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $48,080 | $23.12 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $41,670 | $20.03 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $58,060 | $27.91 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-3092. 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 food batchmaker make in California?
The median salary for food batchmakers in California is $41,670 a year, or $20.03 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,700 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,010 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food batchmakers make in California?
The top 10% of food batchmakers in California earn at least $58,010 a year. The top 25% earn $46,690 or more.
What is the starting pay for food batchmakers in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,700 a year, and a quarter of food batchmakers earn $37,330 or less.
How many food batchmakers work in California?
About 12,560 food batchmakers are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.