How much do Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders make?
The median pay for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in the United States is $41,590 per year — about $20.00 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $31,680, while the most experienced professionals in the top 10% earn $54,410.
That is $19,800 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary range by percentile
Half of all Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders earn between $36,190 and $47,380 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,680 | $15.23 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $36,190 | $17.40 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $41,590 | $20.00 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $47,380 | $22.78 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $54,410 | $26.16 |
Highest-paying states for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Washington leads the country for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders pay at $51,100 a year, followed by Utah ($48,620) and Massachusetts ($47,960). At the other end, Alabama posts the lowest median at $27,080 — a gap of $24,020 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $51,100 | $24.57 | +23% |
| 2 | Utah | $48,620 | $23.38 | +17% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $47,960 | $23.06 | +15% |
| 4 | Iowa | $47,900 | $23.03 | +15% |
| 5 | Michigan | $47,260 | $22.72 | +14% |
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 41 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 31,000 people work as Food Cooking 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
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