Food Processing Workers, All Other salary in California
Food Processing Workers, All Other in California earn a median of $38,230 a year ($18.38 an hour), based on BLS data for 7,140 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,290 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,450 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $39,680. California ranks 28th of 46 states for food processing workers, all other pay. There are 0.39 food processing workers, all other per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $40,760, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food processing workers, all other in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,290 | $16.97 |
| 25th percentile | $36,390 | $17.49 |
| Median | $38,230 | $18.38 |
| 75th percentile | $43,200 | $20.77 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,450 | $23.30 |
| Average (mean) | $40,760 | $19.60 |
Half of food processing workers, all other 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 | $3,185.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,592.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,470.38 |
| Weekly | $735.19 |
| Hourly | $18.38 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Food Processing Workers, All Other salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $53,420 | 120 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $43,200 | 420 |
| Merced, CA | $42,430 | 60 |
| Visalia, CA | $42,250 | 80 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $40,530 | 560 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $39,770 | 760 |
| Modesto, CA | $39,040 | 380 |
| Vallejo, CA | $38,530 | 210 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $38,490 | 150 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $37,280 | 2,530 |
| Salinas, CA | $37,250 | 260 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $36,420 | 100 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $36,410 | 190 |
| Fresno, CA | $36,020 | 220 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $35,710 | 320 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $35,290 | 360 |
| El Centro, CA | $35,240 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for food processing workers, all other
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Colorado | $46,930 |
| Idaho | $46,820 |
| Kansas | $46,060 |
| New Hampshire | $45,410 |
| Illinois | $45,340 |
| Arizona | $45,330 |
| North Dakota | $45,120 |
| Missouri | $44,050 |
| Washington | $43,980 |
| Vermont | $43,300 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Baker | $43,120 | $20.73 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $44,290 | $21.29 |
| Food Batchmaker | $41,670 | $20.03 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $36,570 | $17.58 |
| 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 51-3099. 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 processing workers, all other make in California?
The median salary for food processing workers, all other in California is $38,230 a year, or $18.38 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,290 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,450 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food processing workers, all other make in California?
The top 10% of food processing workers, all other in California earn at least $48,450 a year. The top 25% earn $43,200 or more.
What is the starting pay for food processing workers, all other in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,290 a year, and a quarter of food processing workers, all other earn $36,390 or less.
How many food processing workers, all other work in California?
About 7,140 food processing workers, all other are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.