Helpers--Production Workers salary in Salinas, CA
Helpers--Production Workers in the Salinas, CA metro area earn a median of $46,030 a year ($22.13 an hour), based on BLS data for 130 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,020 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,810 for the top 10%. That is 18% higher than the national median of $39,070. Pay here is 5% higher than the California statewide median of $43,970. There are 0.69 Helpers--Production workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.65). The average (mean) salary is $48,820, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for Helpers--Production workers in Salinas, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,020 | $18.28 |
| 25th percentile | $39,070 | $18.78 |
| Median | $46,030 | $22.13 |
| 75th percentile | $60,810 | $29.23 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,810 | $29.23 |
| Average (mean) | $48,820 | $23.47 |
Half of Helpers--Production workers 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 | $3,835.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,917.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,770.38 |
| Weekly | $885.19 |
| Hourly | $22.13 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Helpers--Production Workers salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $49,920 | 230 |
| Napa, CA | $48,420 | 160 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $47,320 | 380 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $47,120 | 1,590 |
| Redding, CA | $46,340 | 60 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $46,290 | 1,480 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $46,170 | 670 |
| Vallejo, CA | $44,940 | 140 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $44,910 | 710 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $43,210 | 1,990 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $42,490 | 6,810 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $42,360 | 130 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $42,320 | 100 |
| Visalia, CA | $41,540 | 210 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $40,800 | 210 |
| Chico, CA | $40,540 | 30 |
| Fresno, CA | $40,540 | 490 |
| Modesto, CA | $39,900 | 230 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $39,730 | 270 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $39,700 | 100 |
| Merced, CA | $38,880 | 140 |
| El Centro, CA | $38,610 | 90 |
Highest-paying states for Helpers--Production workers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| North Dakota | $46,170 |
| Montana | $46,110 |
| Iowa | $45,560 |
| Colorado | $45,550 |
| Washington | $45,450 |
| Oregon | $45,390 |
| Connecticut | $45,260 |
| Wisconsin | $45,100 |
| Nebraska | $45,020 |
| Minnesota | $44,720 |
See Helpers--Production Workers pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Salinas, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,660 | $21.47 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $44,500 | $21.40 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $38,140 | $18.34 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $52,320 | $25.16 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $37,040 | $17.81 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,230 | $22.71 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $58,390 | $28.07 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $42,250 | $20.31 |
| Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | $51,320 | $24.67 |
| Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders | $38,690 | $18.60 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $69,920 | $33.62 |
| Baker | $41,310 | $19.86 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $44,000 | $21.15 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $46,650 | $22.43 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-9198. 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 Helpers--Production workers make in Salinas, CA?
The median salary for Helpers--Production workers in the Salinas, CA metro area is $46,030 a year, or $22.13 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,020 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,810 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid Helpers--Production workers make in Salinas, CA?
The top 10% of Helpers--Production workers in the Salinas, CA metro area earn at least $60,810 a year. The top 25% earn $60,810 or more.
What is the starting pay for Helpers--Production workers in Salinas, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,020 a year, and a quarter of Helpers--Production workers earn $39,070 or less.
How many Helpers--Production workers work in Salinas, CA?
About 130 Helpers--Production workers are employed in the Salinas, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.