How much does a food cooking machine operator and tender make?
The median food cooking machine operator and tender in the United States earns $41,590 per year, about $20.00 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all food cooking machine operators and tenders earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 51-3093.
Food cooking machine operator and tender salary range
Pay for food cooking machine operators and tenders spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $31,680 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $54,410. The average (mean) wage of $42,570 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 | $31,680 | $15.23 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $36,190 | $17.40 | |
| Median (50th) | $41,590 | $20.00 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $47,380 | $22.78 | |
| 90th percentile | $54,410 | $26.16 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for food cooking machine operators and tenders (SOC 51-3093), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Food cooking machine operator and tender salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Food cooking machine operators and tenders earn the most in Washington at $51,100 a year, and the least in Alabama at $27,080. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $51,100 | 310 |
| Utah | $48,620 | 390 |
| Massachusetts | $47,960 | 170 |
| Iowa | $47,900 | 850 |
| Michigan | $47,260 | 380 |
| Minnesota | $47,250 | 1,410 |
| Colorado | $46,900 | 300 |
| Kansas | $45,850 | 750 |
| New York | $45,680 | 1,300 |
| Tennessee | $45,620 | 1,820 |
| Nebraska | $45,420 | 670 |
| Idaho | $45,120 | 790 |
| California | $44,740 | 2,010 |
| Oregon | $44,530 | 570 |
| Louisiana | $44,440 | 550 |
| Arizona | $44,050 | 560 |
| Indiana | $43,350 | 540 |
| Pennsylvania | $42,710 | 1,580 |
| Illinois | $42,670 | 2,460 |
| Missouri | $42,160 | 620 |
| Kentucky | $41,800 | 300 |
| Ohio | $41,160 | 980 |
| Arkansas | $40,480 | 330 |
| New Hampshire | $40,440 | 110 |
| Wisconsin | $40,000 | 850 |
| South Dakota | $39,270 | 120 |
| North Carolina | $39,070 | 770 |
| Connecticut | $38,880 | 60 |
| Georgia | $38,440 | 690 |
| South Carolina | $38,220 | 520 |
| Maine | $37,500 | 170 |
| New Jersey | $37,180 | 430 |
| Maryland | $36,960 | N/A |
| Nevada | $36,610 | N/A |
| Florida | $36,450 | 970 |
| Oklahoma | $36,030 | 1,140 |
| Virginia | $35,140 | 510 |
| Texas | $33,980 | 3,180 |
| Delaware | $31,240 | N/A |
| Mississippi | $31,150 | 110 |
| Alabama | $27,080 | 250 |
State median wages for food cooking machine operators and tenders (SOC 51-3093), 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 cooking machine operators and tenders
The BLS projects employment of food cooking machine operators and tenders to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 0.3%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 31,200 jobs in 2025 moving toward 31,200 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 3,700 openings a year for food cooking 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 cooking machine operator and tender
The typical entry-level education for food cooking machine operators and tenders is a high school diploma or equivalent, 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 cooking 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 (Washington, $51,100) and the lowest (Alabama, $27,080) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 31,250 people work as food cooking machine operators and tenders in the United States. At $41,590 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Food cooking machine operator and tender salary FAQ
How much does a food cooking machine operator and tender make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a food cooking machine operator and tender is $20.00. The middle half of food cooking machine operators and tenders earn between $17.40 and $22.78 per hour.
What is the highest food cooking machine operator and tender salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of food cooking machine operators and tenders earn more than $54,410 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a food cooking machine operator and tender make a year?
The median annual salary for a food cooking machine operator and tender is $41,590. The average (mean) wage of $42,570 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 cooking machine operator and tender a well paid job?
At $41,590 a year, a food cooking machine operator and tender earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 31,250 people work as food cooking machine operators and tenders in the United States.
Which state pays food cooking machine operators and tenders the most?
Washington has the highest median salary for food cooking machine operators and tenders at $51,100 a year. Utah ($48,620) and Massachusetts ($47,960) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a food cooking machine operator and tender a good career?
Employment of food cooking machine operators and tenders is projected to shrink 0.3% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 3,700 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a food cooking machine operator and tender?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for food cooking machine operators and tenders as a high school diploma or equivalent, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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