Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in California
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in California earn a median of $44,740 a year ($21.51 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,010 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $53,340 for the top 10%. That is 8% higher than the national median of $41,590. California ranks 13th of 41 states for food cooking machine operators and tenders pay. There are 0.11 food cooking machine operators and tenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.55). The average (mean) salary is $45,060, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food cooking machine operators and tenders in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,770 | $17.20 |
| 25th percentile | $37,790 | $18.17 |
| Median | $44,740 | $21.51 |
| 75th percentile | $48,080 | $23.12 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $53,340 | $25.64 |
| Average (mean) | $45,060 | $21.67 |
Half of food cooking machine operators and tenders 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 | $3,728.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,864.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,720.77 |
| Weekly | $860.38 |
| Hourly | $21.51 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $44,740 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Modesto, CA | $59,010 | 140 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $51,560 | 70 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $47,220 | 220 |
| Visalia, CA | $45,880 | 70 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $42,760 | 320 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $41,070 | n/a |
| Vallejo, CA | $38,640 | 50 |
| Fresno, CA | $38,430 | 160 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $36,450 | 130 |
Highest-paying states for food cooking machine operators and tenders
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $51,100 |
| Utah | $48,620 |
| Massachusetts | $47,960 |
| Iowa | $47,900 |
| Michigan | $47,260 |
| Minnesota | $47,250 |
| Colorado | $46,900 |
| Kansas | $45,850 |
| New York | $45,680 |
| Tennessee | $45,620 |
See Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders pay in every state.
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Baker | $43,120 | $20.73 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $44,290 | $21.29 |
| Food Batchmaker | $41,670 | $20.03 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $36,570 | $17.58 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $38,230 | $18.38 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $39,420 | $18.95 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $45,600 | $21.93 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $47,720 | $22.94 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $54,300 | $26.11 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $76,840 | $36.94 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,020 | $21.16 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $48,080 | $23.12 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $41,670 | $20.03 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $58,060 | $27.91 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-3093. 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 food cooking machine operators and tenders make in California?
The median salary for food cooking machine operators and tenders in California is $44,740 a year, or $21.51 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $53,340 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food cooking machine operators and tenders make in California?
The top 10% of food cooking machine operators and tenders in California earn at least $53,340 a year. The top 25% earn $48,080 or more.
What is the starting pay for food cooking machine operators and tenders in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,770 a year, and a quarter of food cooking machine operators and tenders earn $37,790 or less.
How many food cooking machine operators and tenders work in California?
About 2,010 food cooking machine operators and tenders are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.