Arkansas Median
$40,480
per year
Hourly Rate
$19.46
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-3% vs US median
US median $41,590
State Rank
#23 of 41
330 employed here
How much do Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders make in Arkansas?
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Arkansas take home a median of $40,480 annually — roughly $19.46 an hour — which runs 3% below the national median of $41,590.
Within Arkansas, entry-level pay starts around $34,660 while the top 10% make $48,930 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $38,180 and $46,310 a year.
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary range in Arkansas
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,660 | $16.66 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $38,180 | $18.36 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $40,480 | $19.46 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $46,310 | $22.26 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,930 | $23.52 |
|
How Arkansas compares
Arkansas ranks 23rd out of 41 states and territories for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in other states
Washington $51,100Utah $48,620Massachusetts $47,960Iowa $47,900Michigan $47,260Minnesota $47,250Colorado $46,900Kansas $45,850New York $45,680Tennessee $45,620Nebraska $45,420Idaho $45,120California $44,740Oregon $44,530Louisiana $44,440Arizona $44,050Indiana $43,350Pennsylvania $42,710Illinois $42,670Missouri $42,160Kentucky $41,800Ohio $41,160New Hampshire $40,440Wisconsin $40,000South Dakota $39,270North Carolina $39,070Connecticut $38,880Georgia $38,440South Carolina $38,220Maine $37,500New Jersey $37,180Maryland $36,960Nevada $36,610Florida $36,450Oklahoma $36,030Virginia $35,140Texas $33,980Delaware $31,240Mississippi $31,150Alabama $27,080
Working as Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Arkansas
Nationally, about 31,000 people work as Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in the United States. A high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job.
Considering a move? Compare Arkansas pay ($40,480) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders make in Arkansas?
The median Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in Arkansas is $40,480 per year, or about $19.46 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $34,660 at the entry level to $48,930 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Arkansas pay compare to the national average?
Arkansas pays Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders about 3% less than the national median of $41,590. Arkansas ranks 23rd out of 41 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Arkansas a good state for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $40,480 a year. About 330 Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders are employed in Arkansas. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Arkansas?
The highest-paying occupations in Arkansas include Dermatologist ($422,060), Neurologist ($317,880), Orthopedic Surgeon, Except Pediatric ($262,470), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary report
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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). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.