Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators salary in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median of $54,400 a year ($26.15 an hour), based on BLS data for 130 workers.
Pay ranges from $41,100 for the lowest-paid 10% to $96,020 for the top 10%. That is 34% higher than the national median of $40,610. Pay here is 15% higher than the California statewide median of $47,320. There are 0.06 photographic process workers and processing machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $58,940, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for photographic process workers and processing machine operators in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,100 | $19.76 |
| 25th percentile | $44,230 | $21.26 |
| Median | $54,400 | $26.15 |
| 75th percentile | $61,570 | $29.60 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $96,020 | $46.16 |
| Average (mean) | $58,940 | $28.34 |
Half of photographic process workers and processing machine operators 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 | $4,533.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,266.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,092.31 |
| Weekly | $1,046.15 |
| Hourly | $26.15 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $54,400 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $56,550 | n/a |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $47,450 | 280 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $46,810 | 40 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $43,240 | 60 |
Highest-paying states for photographic process workers and processing machine operators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $57,760 |
| Virginia | $47,380 |
| California | $47,320 |
| Florida | $46,840 |
| Wisconsin | $46,480 |
| Washington | $46,280 |
| Maryland | $45,600 |
| Iowa | $43,310 |
| New Jersey | $43,300 |
| Delaware | $42,220 |
See Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $62,340 | $29.97 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $46,310 | $22.26 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $46,710 | $22.46 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $59,600 | $28.65 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $46,290 | $22.25 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $58,390 | $28.07 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $71,210 | $34.24 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $62,320 | $29.96 |
| Semiconductor Processing Technician | $46,340 | $22.28 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $60,720 | $29.19 |
| Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | $57,300 | $27.55 |
| Dental Laboratory Technician | $60,940 | $29.30 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmer | $93,640 | $45.02 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $55,780 | $26.82 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-9151. 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 photographic process workers and processing machine operators make in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
The median salary for photographic process workers and processing machine operators in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $54,400 a year, or $26.15 an hour. Pay ranges from $41,100 for the lowest-paid 10% to $96,020 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid photographic process workers and processing machine operators make in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
The top 10% of photographic process workers and processing machine operators in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn at least $96,020 a year. The top 25% earn $61,570 or more.
What is the starting pay for photographic process workers and processing machine operators in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $41,100 a year, and a quarter of photographic process workers and processing machine operators earn $44,230 or less.
How many photographic process workers and processing machine operators work in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
About 130 photographic process workers and processing machine operators are employed in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.