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Labor Intensive Jobs in Merced, CA (NOW HIRING)

Land O'Lakes

Quality Lab Technician

Turlock, CA

$27/hr

This position is a hybrid of desk work, lab work, and labor-intensive tasks as needed This role is part of our Purina Animal Nutrition business who serves producers and animal owners throughout the ...

CommonSpirit Health

OB Tech II

Merced, CA · On-site

... II NICU, heart care, the Mercy Cancer Center, and a family birth center. Additionally, Merced ... Labor & Delivery team, providing essential technical and patient care support to ensure a safe ...

Dignity Health

OB Tech II

Merced, CA · On-site

$25 - $33.52/hr

... Labor & Delivery team, providing essential technical and patient care support to ensure a safe ... II NICU, heart care, the Mercy Cancer Center, and a family birth center. Additionally, Merced ...

Mercy Medical Center Merced

OB Tech II

Merced, CA · On-site

$25 - $33.52/hr

... Labor & Delivery team, providing essential technical and patient care support to ensure a safe ... II NICU, heart care, the Mercy Cancer Center, and a family birth center. Additionally, Merced ...

All JobsLabor Intensive JobsLabor Intensive Jobs in Merced, CA

Labor Intensive information

See Merced, CA salary details

$10

$39

$78

How much do labor intensive jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 12, 2026, the average hourly pay for labor intensive in Merced, CA is $39.35, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.26 and $52.02 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a labor intensive job?

Labor intensive jobs are occupations that require a significant amount of physical work, manual effort, or human labor rather than relying primarily on machines or technology. These jobs are often found in industries like agriculture, construction, manufacturing, and hospitality. Labor intensive jobs can involve tasks such as lifting, assembling, cleaning, or operating basic tools and equipment. Because these positions depend heavily on human effort, they may require stamina, strength, and endurance.

What is the difference between Labor Intensive vs Construction Worker?

AspectLabor IntensiveConstruction Worker
Required credentialsNone or minimalOSHA safety training, certifications often preferred
Work environmentVaries widely, often manual and physically demandingConstruction sites, outdoor and indoor environments
Employer and industry usageUsed across multiple industries for physically demanding tasksSpecific to construction projects and sites
Common search and comparison intentUnderstanding physical labor roles and requirementsDetails about construction job duties and skills

Labor Intensive roles involve physically demanding tasks across various industries with minimal credentials, while Construction Workers focus specifically on building sites, often requiring safety certifications. Both roles are physically demanding but differ in industry context and specific skills needed.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in a labor intensive job?

To thrive in a labor-intensive job, you need physical stamina, strength, and the ability to follow safety protocols, often supported by a high school diploma or equivalent. Familiarity with tools, machinery, and basic workplace safety certifications like OSHA are typically required. Dependability, teamwork, and a strong work ethic are essential soft skills for success in physically demanding environments. These abilities ensure tasks are completed efficiently and safely, minimizing injuries and maximizing productivity.

What are common physical and mental challenges faced in labor intensive roles, and how can job seekers prepare for them?

Labor-intensive roles often require prolonged periods of physical activity, such as lifting, standing, or repetitive motions, which can lead to fatigue or muscle strain. Mentally, these positions can be demanding due to the fast-paced environment and the need to maintain focus to ensure safety and quality. Job seekers can prepare by maintaining good physical fitness, learning proper ergonomics, and staying informed about workplace safety practices. It's also important to develop time management skills and resilience to handle the demanding nature of the work.
What are popular job titles related to Labor Intensive jobs in Merced, CA? For Labor Intensive jobs in Merced, CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Labor Intensive jobs in Merced, CA look for? The top searched job categories for Labor Intensive jobs in Merced, CA are:
What cities near Merced, CA are hiring for Labor Intensive jobs? Cities near Merced, CA with the most Labor Intensive job openings:
Labor Intensive jobs near you
Infographic showing various Labor Intensive job openings in Merced, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $81,841 per year, or $39.3 per hour.

Operations Excellence Engineer I

Foster Farms

Livingston, CA • On-site

$96K - $120K/yr

Full-time

Posted 5 days ago

Foster Farms rating

6.3

Company rating: 6.3 out of 10

Based on 44 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

308th of 437 rated food and drinks producers

Job description

Pay Range: $96,100 - $120,120 per year
The Operational Excellence Engineer I supports operational excellence engineering initiatives and continuous improvement across poultry processing operations. Reporting to the Complex Manager, this engineering role partners with live production, processing operations, maintenance, quality assurance, food safety, environmental, animal welfare and safety teams to identify, analyze, and implement data-driven improvements to enhance throughput, yield, cost control, compliance, and overall operational performance.
This industrial engineering position applies Lean, Six Sigma, and audit-based methodologies to strengthen executional discipline, standardize processes, reduce variability, and ensure compliance with regulatory, food safety, animal welfare, and internal operating standards. The OE Engineer plays a key role in supporting plant strategy by improving foundational processes, driving operational efficiencies, and delivering measurable value to internal and external customers.
Essential Functions:
  • Collect and analyze operational, yield, labor, downtime, and quality data to assess current-state performance and identify process improvement opportunities across poultry processing operations.
  • Conduct analysis and process mapping, time studies, value stream mapping, and root cause analysis (e.g., 5 Whys, Fishbone) to identify bottlenecks and sources of variability.
  • Collaborate on and design Lean and continuous improvement initiatives, including waste reduction, line efficiency, yield improvement, labor optimization, and cost reduction.
  • Develop internal audits, operational assessments, and compliance reviews related to food safety, quality, animal welfare, safety, and operational standards.
  • Design, coordinate and implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs) and ensure sustained compliance.
  • Drive process, equipment, and work-instruction standardization across departments and facilities to improve consistency and executional discipline.
  • Collaborate on and design improvement projects end-to-end, including scoping, planning, testing, implementation, training, and post-implementation validation.
  • Develop and enhance project documentation, including project plans, timelines, SOPs, workflow maps, standard work, transition plans, and hand-off documentation.
  • Facilitate cross-functional collaboration across processing, live operations, maintenance, engineering, QA, and safety teams with competing priorities.
  • Collect, validate, and analyze performance metrics; develop dashboards and reports to track KPIs such as yield, efficiency, labor, safety, quality, and downtime.
  • Plan implementation and optimization of operational systems, ensuring data integrity and effective reporting.
  • Identify and implement initiatives that improve food safety, employee safety, animal welfare outcomes, and reduce operational risk.
  • Analyze and develop solutions relating to sustainability of improvements through audits, performance reviews, and management routines.
  • Serve as an active member of the organization's cross-functional Operational Excellence team.

Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree in business, Operations, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations Management, or a related field.
  • Minimum of five (5) years of experience in poultry, meat processing, food manufacturing, high-volume labor-intensive operations or a related operations environment.
  • Strong data analysis, database management, and business operations experience.
  • Working knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement methodologies; Lean Six Sigma certification (Green or Black Belt) preferred.
  • Experience supporting or participating in internal audits, operational assessments, or compliance programs.
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, with advanced Excel skills preferred.
  • Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.
  • Excellent facilitation, training, and communication skills with an end-user and operations-focused mindset.
  • Proven ability to identify root causes, develop corrective actions, and drive sustainable results.
  • High attention to detail and strong organizational and time-management skills.
  • Ability to work effectively with diverse teams, perspectives, and backgrounds in a fast-paced production environment.
  • Ability to build strong relationships and influence change across all levels of the organization.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.
For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

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