How much does a food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operator and tender make?
The median food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operator and tender in the United States earns $44,810 per year, about $21.54 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 51-3091.
Food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operator and tender salary range
Pay for food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $33,250 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $62,680. The average (mean) wage of $45,930 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $33,250 | $15.98 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $37,540 | $18.05 | |
| Median (50th) | $44,810 | $21.54 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $50,680 | $24.37 | |
| 90th percentile | $62,680 | $30.14 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders (SOC 51-3091), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operator and tender salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders earn the most in North Dakota at $77,300 a year, and the least in Florida at $35,340. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | $77,300 | 30 |
| Maryland | $60,170 | 200 |
| Colorado | $59,590 | 500 |
| Virginia | $59,260 | 270 |
| Alaska | $55,280 | 30 |
| Nevada | $54,950 | 130 |
| Washington | $50,590 | 720 |
| Minnesota | $50,340 | 1,120 |
| Maine | $50,220 | 100 |
| Pennsylvania | $49,660 | 540 |
| New York | $49,020 | 1,370 |
| Wisconsin | $48,560 | 540 |
| Kentucky | $48,540 | 340 |
| Idaho | $48,250 | 430 |
| Michigan | $48,240 | 700 |
| Iowa | $47,960 | 660 |
| Utah | $47,940 | 130 |
| Oregon | $46,250 | 500 |
| California | $45,600 | 1,630 |
| Massachusetts | $45,400 | 190 |
| Hawaii | $45,390 | 90 |
| Arkansas | $45,080 | 580 |
| South Dakota | $45,040 | 120 |
| Kansas | $44,550 | 220 |
| Ohio | $44,190 | 910 |
| Missouri | $43,460 | 1,030 |
| Nebraska | $43,410 | 440 |
| Indiana | $43,370 | 260 |
| Arizona | $43,010 | 90 |
| Oklahoma | $42,390 | 370 |
| Connecticut | $41,720 | 60 |
| Vermont | $40,990 | 80 |
| South Carolina | $40,000 | 140 |
| Tennessee | $39,130 | 350 |
| Louisiana | $38,440 | 80 |
| Illinois | $38,230 | 440 |
| Georgia | $37,390 | 290 |
| New Jersey | $37,140 | 630 |
| Texas | $37,140 | 1,800 |
| Mississippi | $37,030 | 60 |
| North Carolina | $35,980 | 1,510 |
| New Mexico | $35,480 | 70 |
| Montana | $35,360 | 130 |
| Florida | $35,340 | 360 |
State median wages for food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders (SOC 51-3091), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders
The BLS projects employment of food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders to hold roughly steady from 2025 to 2035. That is little or no change, compared with 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 21,600 jobs in 2025 moving toward 21,700 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 2,500 openings a year for food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operator and tender
The typical entry-level education for food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders is no formal educational credential, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete moderate-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operator and tender earns
Industry, shift, certifications, and region drive pay, along with overtime. Skilled operators and workers in unionized plants sit near the top of the range.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (North Dakota, $77,300) and the lowest (Florida, $35,340) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 20,370 people work as food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders in the United States. At $44,810 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operator and tender salary FAQ
How much does a food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operator and tender make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operator and tender is $21.54. The middle half of food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders earn between $18.05 and $24.37 per hour.
What is the highest food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operator and tender salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders earn more than $62,680 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operator and tender make a year?
The median annual salary for a food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operator and tender is $44,810. The average (mean) wage of $45,930 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operator and tender a well paid job?
At $44,810 a year, a food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operator and tender earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 20,370 people work as food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders in the United States.
Which state pays food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders the most?
North Dakota has the highest median salary for food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders at $77,300 a year. Maryland ($60,170) and Colorado ($59,590) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operator and tender a good career?
Employment of food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders is projected to hold roughly steady 0.4% from 2025 to 2035, little or no change, compared with 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 2,500 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operator and tender?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders as no formal educational credential, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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