Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders Salary in Merced, CA
Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders in Merced, CA make a median of $39,640 a year, or about $19.06 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $60K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.28), that's roughly $40,334 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,503/month — about 54.9% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $40K get you in Merced?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Merced’s Regional Price Parity (98.28). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Merced, CA
Entry-level food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $40K. Top earners bring in $60K or more, a $23K spread from bottom to top.
Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $54K | +26% | 160 |
| North Dakota | $52K | +22% | 30 |
| North Carolina | $52K | +21% | 760 |
| Wisconsin | $49K | +15% | 610 |
| Maine | $49K | +14% | 150 |
| Minnesota | $48K | +12% | 900 |
| Montana | $47K | +11% | 70 |
| Massachusetts | $47K | +10% | 230 |
| Nevada | $47K | +10% | 210 |
| Iowa | $46K | +7% | 820 |
| Indiana | $46K | +7% | 660 |
| Missouri | $45K | +6% | 670 |
| California | $45K | +6% | 1,780 |
| Tennessee | $45K | +5% | 700 |
| Oregon | $44K | +4% | 340 |
| Washington | $44K | +3% | 320 |
| Michigan | $44K | +2% | 850 |
| Virginia | $44K | +2% | 490 |
| South Carolina | $44K | +2% | 320 |
| South Dakota | $44K | +2% | 130 |
| Rhode Island | $43K | +1% | N/A |
| Kentucky | $43K | +1% | 370 |
| Ohio | $43K | +0% | 590 |
| Kansas | $42K | -1% | 390 |
| Connecticut | $42K | -1% | 70 |
| Hawaii | $42K | -2% | 120 |
| Nebraska | $41K | -3% | 370 |
| Illinois | $41K | -3% | 150 |
| Utah | $41K | -5% | 150 |
| Idaho | $40K | -6% | 330 |
| Vermont | $40K | -7% | 120 |
| Arkansas | $39K | -8% | 240 |
| Arizona | $39K | -8% | 90 |
| New Jersey | $37K | -13% | 790 |
| Texas | $37K | -13% | 1,680 |
| Louisiana | $37K | -14% | 80 |
| Florida | $37K | -15% | 390 |
| Oklahoma | $36K | -15% | 440 |
| New York | $36K | -15% | N/A |
| Georgia | $36K | -17% | 440 |
| New Mexico | $35K | -18% | 100 |
| Pennsylvania | $34K | -22% | 390 |
Showing 1–10 of 42 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Merced numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders make in Merced, CA?
The median is $39,640 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,570, and experienced food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders can clear $59,540. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $40K enough to live in Merced?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,760/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,503/month, which eats 54.5% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders salary go in Merced?
Merced has a Regional Price Parity of 98.28 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders salary is worth about $40,334 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.