Food Processing Workers, All Other salary in Salinas, CA
Food Processing Workers, All Other in the Salinas, CA metro area earn a median of $37,250 a year ($17.91 an hour), based on BLS data for 260 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $39,540 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $39,680. Pay here is 3% lower than the California statewide median of $38,230. There are 1.4 food processing workers, all other per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 3.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $38,010, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food processing workers, all other in Salinas, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,200 | $17.88 |
| 25th percentile | $37,200 | $17.88 |
| Median | $37,250 | $17.91 |
| 75th percentile | $37,250 | $17.91 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $39,540 | $19.01 |
| Average (mean) | $38,010 | $18.27 |
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 | $3,104.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,552.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,432.69 |
| Weekly | $716.35 |
| Hourly | $17.91 |
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 other metro areas nearby
| 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 |
| 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 |
See Food Processing Workers, All Other pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Salinas, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Baker | $41,310 | $19.86 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $46,650 | $22.43 |
| Food Batchmaker | $36,790 | $17.69 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $42,380 | $20.38 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $37,630 | $18.09 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,660 | $21.47 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $69,920 | $33.62 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $44,500 | $21.40 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $44,000 | $21.15 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $38,230 | $18.38 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $38,140 | $18.34 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $58,240 | $28.00 |
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $77,920 | $37.46 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $52,320 | $25.16 |
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 Salinas, CA?
The median salary for food processing workers, all other in the Salinas, CA metro area is $37,250 a year, or $17.91 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $39,540 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food processing workers, all other make in Salinas, CA?
The top 10% of food processing workers, all other in the Salinas, CA metro area earn at least $39,540 a year. The top 25% earn $37,250 or more.
What is the starting pay for food processing workers, all other in Salinas, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,200 a year, and a quarter of food processing workers, all other earn $37,200 or less.
How many food processing workers, all other work in Salinas, CA?
About 260 food processing workers, all other are employed in the Salinas, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.