Food Preparation Worker Salary in Merced, CA
Food Preparation Workers in the Merced, CA metro area earn a median $38,980 a year — 10% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $32,445 take-home, or $2,704 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Merced, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,498
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,417
- Medicare (1.45%)$565
- California income tax$549
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$507
- Take-home pay$32,445
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Merced, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,320 | $16.50 | $28,948 | $2,412 |
| 25th percentile | $34,900 | $16.78 | $29,383 | $2,449 |
| Median (50th) | $38,980 | $18.74 | $32,445 | $2,704 |
| 75th percentile | $42,910 | $20.63 | $35,395 | $2,950 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,110 | $22.65 | $38,544 | $3,212 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,980 buys in Merced, CA
Prices in Merced, CA are 1.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $32,445 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,015 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Food Preparation Worker jobs are about as common in Merced, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.02).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Merced, CA ranks #12 of 254 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $41,750 | $35,726 | $37,392 |
| 2 | Wildwood, FL | $35,410 | $30,632 | $35,859 |
| 3 | Fargo, ND | $36,590 | $31,580 | $34,753 |
| 4 | Wichita Falls, TX | $35,700 | $30,865 | $34,481 |
| 5 | Kahului, HI | $46,680 | $37,642 | $34,410 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $45,580 | $37,398 | $33,868 |
| 7 | Springfield, MO | $35,340 | $29,852 | $33,699 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $43,830 | $37,397 | $33,651 |
| 12 | Merced, CA | $38,980 | $32,445 | $33,015 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 254 metros →
Food Preparation Worker salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $45,580
- Santa Rosa, CA — $42,640
- Napa, CA — $42,810
- Visalia, CA — $37,020
- Chico, CA — $37,510
- Fresno, CA — $37,730
- Modesto, CA — $38,450
- Bakersfield, CA — $37,090
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Merced, CA?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Merced, CA metro area is $38,980 a year, or about $18.74 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,900 and $42,910.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Merced, CA?
On the median $38,980 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $32,445 a year ($2,704 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,055 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Merced, CA a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 10% above the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 1.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,015 would in a typical U.S. city. Merced, CA ranks #12 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Merced, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Merced, CA is $1,213 a month ($1,503 for two bedrooms) — 45% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Merced, CA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $45,490
- Cooks, Fast Food — $40,430
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $38,200
- Waiter and Waitress — $34,320