The median annual wage for Food Preparation Workers in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA is $37,010 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $39,020.
Pay spans roughly $34,270 at the 10th percentile to $46,190 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $17.79 per hour. An estimated 670 people work as food preparation workers in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA.
| Median (annual) | $37,010 |
| Mean (annual) | $39,020 |
| Median (hourly) | $17.79 |
| 10th percentile | $34,270 |
| 90th percentile | $46,190 |
| Employment | 670 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.