The median annual wage for Food Preparation Workers in Merced, CA is $35,140 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $38,680.
Pay spans roughly $33,280 at the 10th percentile to $48,620 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $16.90 per hour. An estimated 390 people work as food preparation workers in Merced, CA.
| Median (annual) | $35,140 |
| Mean (annual) | $38,680 |
| Median (hourly) | $16.90 |
| 10th percentile | $33,280 |
| 90th percentile | $48,620 |
| Employment | 390 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.