Kentucky Median
$41,800
per year
Hourly Rate
$20.10
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+1% vs US median
US median $41,590
State Rank
#21 of 41
300 employed here
How much do Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders make in Kentucky?
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Kentucky take home a median of $41,800 annually — roughly $20.10 an hour — which runs 1% above the national median of $41,590.
Within Kentucky, entry-level pay starts around $36,360 while the top 10% make $52,990 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $38,040 and $52,780 a year.
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary range in Kentucky
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,360 | $17.48 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $38,040 | $18.29 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $41,800 | $20.10 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $52,780 | $25.38 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $52,990 | $25.48 |
|
How Kentucky compares
Kentucky ranks 21st 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 $42,160Ohio $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 Kentucky
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 Kentucky pay ($41,800) 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 Kentucky?
The median Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in Kentucky is $41,800 per year, or about $20.10 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $36,360 at the entry level to $52,990 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Kentucky pay compare to the national average?
Kentucky pays Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders about 1% more than the national median of $41,590. Kentucky ranks 21st out of 41 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Kentucky a good state for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders?
Yes on pay — Kentucky pays above the national median for this occupation, at $41,800 a year. About 300 Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders are employed in Kentucky. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Kentucky?
The highest-paying occupations in Kentucky include Cardiologist ($558,180), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($350,950), Anesthesiologist ($347,960), 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.