Food Batchmaker salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Food Batchmakers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn a median of $39,090 a year ($18.80 an hour), based on BLS data for 60 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,050 for the lowest-paid 10% to $51,110 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $42,290. Pay here is 6% lower than the California statewide median of $41,670. There are 0.59 food batchmakers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.53). The average (mean) salary is $41,730, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food batchmakers in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,050 | $17.33 |
| 25th percentile | $37,160 | $17.87 |
| Median | $39,090 | $18.80 |
| 75th percentile | $45,560 | $21.90 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $51,110 | $24.57 |
| Average (mean) | $41,730 | $20.06 |
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 | $3,257.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,628.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,503.46 |
| Weekly | $751.73 |
| Hourly | $18.80 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Food Batchmaker salary in other metro areas nearby
| 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 |
| 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
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Vermont | $50,180 |
| Idaho | $49,570 |
| Wisconsin | $48,360 |
| Iowa | $48,300 |
| Illinois | $48,130 |
| Kentucky | $46,900 |
| Georgia | $46,490 |
| Missouri | $45,690 |
| Colorado | $44,900 |
| Ohio | $44,590 |
See Food Batchmaker pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Baker | $42,920 | $20.63 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $44,260 | $21.28 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $37,550 | $18.05 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,610 | $20.96 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $47,560 | $22.87 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $74,690 | $35.91 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $51,210 | $24.62 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $49,280 | $23.69 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $37,910 | $18.23 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $39,700 | $19.09 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $55,560 | $26.71 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $50,840 | $24.44 |
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $94,060 | $45.22 |
| Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters | $49,340 | $23.72 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median salary for food batchmakers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $39,090 a year, or $18.80 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,050 for the lowest-paid 10% to $51,110 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food batchmakers make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The top 10% of food batchmakers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn at least $51,110 a year. The top 25% earn $45,560 or more.
What is the starting pay for food batchmakers in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,050 a year, and a quarter of food batchmakers earn $37,160 or less.
How many food batchmakers work in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
About 60 food batchmakers are employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.