Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders salary in Salinas, CA
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders in the Salinas, CA metro area earn a median of $44,660 a year ($21.47 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,070 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $56,140 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $43,220. Pay here is 1% higher than the California statewide median of $44,020. There are 5.7 packaging and filling machine operators and tenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $44,940, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for packaging and filling machine operators and tenders in Salinas, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,770 | $17.68 |
| 25th percentile | $39,530 | $19.00 |
| Median | $44,660 | $21.47 |
| 75th percentile | $49,920 | $24.00 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $56,140 | $26.99 |
| Average (mean) | $44,940 | $21.61 |
Half of packaging and filling 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 | $3,721.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,860.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,717.69 |
| Weekly | $858.85 |
| Hourly | $21.47 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $44,660 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Napa, CA | $50,850 | 960 |
| Modesto, CA | $49,460 | 1,610 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $46,780 | 1,130 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $46,310 | 3,510 |
| Vallejo, CA | $46,310 | 710 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $45,900 | 300 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $45,740 | 1,260 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $45,500 | 1,640 |
| Merced, CA | $45,280 | 620 |
| Chico, CA | $45,130 | 230 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $44,970 | 770 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $43,780 | 4,080 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $43,710 | 210 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $43,610 | 390 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $43,470 | 13,990 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $43,310 | 1,270 |
| Visalia, CA | $42,130 | 1,530 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $40,000 | 2,500 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $39,580 | 850 |
| Fresno, CA | $38,440 | 2,360 |
| Yuba City, CA | $38,230 | 100 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $38,040 | 430 |
| Redding, CA | $37,560 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for packaging and filling machine operators and tenders
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New Hampshire | $49,450 |
| Wyoming | $48,890 |
| Missouri | $48,070 |
| Maine | $47,970 |
| North Dakota | $47,390 |
| Idaho | $46,720 |
| Vermont | $46,670 |
| West Virginia | $46,410 |
| Nebraska | $46,220 |
| Wisconsin | $46,220 |
See Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Salinas, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $44,500 | $21.40 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $38,140 | $18.34 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $52,320 | $25.16 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $46,030 | $22.13 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $37,040 | $17.81 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,230 | $22.71 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $58,390 | $28.07 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $42,250 | $20.31 |
| Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | $51,320 | $24.67 |
| Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders | $38,690 | $18.60 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $69,920 | $33.62 |
| Baker | $41,310 | $19.86 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $44,000 | $21.15 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $46,650 | $22.43 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-9111. 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 packaging and filling machine operators and tenders make in Salinas, CA?
The median salary for packaging and filling machine operators and tenders in the Salinas, CA metro area is $44,660 a year, or $21.47 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $56,140 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid packaging and filling machine operators and tenders make in Salinas, CA?
The top 10% of packaging and filling machine operators and tenders in the Salinas, CA metro area earn at least $56,140 a year. The top 25% earn $49,920 or more.
What is the starting pay for packaging and filling machine operators and tenders in Salinas, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,770 a year, and a quarter of packaging and filling machine operators and tenders earn $39,530 or less.
How many packaging and filling machine operators and tenders work in Salinas, CA?
About 1,070 packaging and filling machine operators and tenders are employed in the Salinas, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.