California Median
$44,740
per year
Hourly Rate
$21.51
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+8% vs US median
US median $41,590
State Rank
#13 of 41
2,010 employed here
How much do Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders make in California?
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in California take home a median of $44,740 annually — roughly $21.51 an hour — which runs 8% above the national median of $41,590.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $35,770 while the top 10% make $53,340 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $37,790 and $48,080 a year.
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,770 | $17.20 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $37,790 | $18.17 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $44,740 | $21.51 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $48,080 | $23.12 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $53,340 | $25.64 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 13th 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 $45,120Oregon $44,530Louisiana $44,440Arizona $44,050Indiana $43,350Pennsylvania $42,710Illinois $42,670Missouri $42,160Kentucky $41,800Ohio $41,160Arkansas $40,480New 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 California
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 California pay ($44,740) 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 California?
The median Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in California is $44,740 per year, or about $21.51 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $35,770 at the entry level to $53,340 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders about 8% more than the national median of $41,590. California ranks 13th out of 41 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $44,740 a year. About 2,010 Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), 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.