Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$44,810
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$21.54
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$62,680
entry level starts ~$33,250
Pay Grade
C
below-average pay · 20,000 employed

How much do Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders make?

The median pay for Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders in the United States is $44,810 per year — about $21.54 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $33,250, while the most experienced professionals in the top 10% earn $62,680.

That is $16,580 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders salary range by percentile

Half of all Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders earn between $37,540 and $50,680 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$33,250$15.99
25th percentile (early career)$37,540$18.05
50th percentile (median)$44,810$21.54
75th percentile (experienced)$50,680$24.37
90th percentile (top earners)$62,680$30.13

Highest-paying states for Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. North Dakota leads the country for Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders pay at $77,300 a year, followed by Maryland ($60,170) and Colorado ($59,590). At the other end, Florida posts the lowest median at $35,340 — a gap of $41,960 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1North Dakota$77,300$37.16+73%
2Maryland$60,170$28.93+34%
3Colorado$59,590$28.65+33%
4Virginia$59,260$28.49+32%
5Alaska$55,280$26.58+23%

Workforce and education

About 20,000 people work as Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders in the United States. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders make in the United States?
The median Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders salary in the United States is $44,810 per year, or about $21.54 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $33,250, while the top 10% of earners make $62,680 or more.
How does Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of C (below-average pay), the Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders median of $44,810 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders the most?
North Dakota is the highest-paying state for Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders, with a median salary of $77,300 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
What education do Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders need?
For most positions, a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, according to O*NET occupation data from the U.S. Department of Labor.
How many Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders work in the United States?
About 20,000 people were employed as Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.