SOC 51-3093 · Production Occupations

Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025United States, all industries

U.S. median annual wage$41,590

U.S. median hourly wage$20.00

U.S. employment31,250

Nationally, food cooking machine operators and tenders earned a median of $41,590 per year as of the May 2025 OEWS estimates, across 31,250 jobs. Pay varies substantially by area — look up a specific state or metro below.

National pay distribution

Pay by state

Every state and territory with a published May 2025 estimate. “Not published” means BLS suppressed the value — it never means zero. Higher medians often track higher living costs; this is not a ranking of where the job is “best”.

Filter state

Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders: pay and employment by state
State
Washington	$51,100	$24.57	310	0.1
Utah	$48,620	$23.37	390	0.2
Massachusetts	$47,960	$23.06	170	0.0
Iowa	$47,900	$23.03	850	0.5
Michigan	$47,260	$22.72	380	0.1
Minnesota	$47,250	$22.72	1,410	0.5
Colorado	$46,900	$22.55	300	0.1
Kansas	$45,850	$22.04	750	0.5
New York	$45,680	$21.96	1,300	0.1
Tennessee	$45,620	$21.93	1,820	0.6
Nebraska	$45,420	$21.84	670	0.7
Idaho	$45,120	$21.69	790	0.9
California	$44,740	$21.51	2,010	0.1
Oregon	$44,530	$21.41	570	0.3
Louisiana	$44,440	$21.37	550	0.3
Arizona	$44,050	$21.18	560	0.2
Indiana	$43,350	$20.84	540	0.2
Pennsylvania	$42,710	$20.54	1,580	0.3
Illinois	$42,670	$20.51	2,460	0.4
Missouri	$42,160	$20.27	620	0.2
Kentucky	$41,800	$20.09	300	0.2
Ohio	$41,160	$19.79	980	0.2
Arkansas	$40,480	$19.46	330	0.3
New Hampshire	$40,440	$19.44	110	0.2
Wisconsin	$40,000	$19.23	850	0.3
South Dakota	$39,270	$18.88	120	0.3
North Carolina	$39,070	$18.79	770	0.2
Connecticut	$38,880	$18.69	60	0.0
Georgia	$38,440	$18.48	690	0.1
South Carolina	$38,220	$18.37	520	0.2
Maine	$37,500	$18.03	170	0.3
New Jersey	$37,180	$17.88	430	0.1
Maryland	$36,960	$17.77	Not published	Not published
Nevada	$36,610	$17.60	Not published	Not published
Florida	$36,450	$17.53	970	0.1
Oklahoma	$36,030	$17.32	1,140	0.7
Virginia	$35,140	$16.90	510	0.1
Texas	$33,980	$16.34	3,180	0.2
Delaware	$31,240	$15.02	Not published	Not published
Mississippi	$31,150	$14.98	110	0.1
Alabama	$27,080	$13.02	250	0.1
Puerto Rico	$25,480	$12.25	220	0.2

Pay by metro area

All 87 metro areas where BLS publishes this occupation. Sort by median wage, employment, or local concentration — or see the highest-paying metros ranked.

Each dot is one metro area with a published median — hover any dot for the name and figure. Metros without published estimates are not drawn.

Filter metro area

Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders: pay and employment by metro area
Metro area
Cedar Rapids, IA	$63,690	$30.62	40	0.3
Modesto, CA	$59,010	$28.37	140	0.7
Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY	$57,680	$27.73	80	0.3
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA	$57,490	$27.64	110	0.4
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$56,190	$27.01	190	0.1
Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$55,270	$26.57	190	0.3
Sioux City, IA-NE-SD	$51,600	$24.81	190	2.5
Stockton-Lodi, CA	$51,560	$24.79	70	0.2
Portland-South Portland, ME	$50,330	$24.20	40	0.1
Dubuque, IA	$50,140	$24.11	40	0.7
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ	$49,220	$23.66	460	0.2
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	$48,980	$23.55	160	0.1
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL	$48,460	$23.30	100	0.6
Omaha, NE-IA	$48,420	$23.28	260	0.5
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$48,290	$23.22	230	0.1
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	$48,230	$23.19	50	0.0
Salt Lake City-Murray, UT	$48,010	$23.08	70	0.1
Appleton, WI	$47,920	$23.04	60	0.5
Rochester, NY	$47,760	$22.96	150	0.3
St. Cloud, MN	$47,380	$22.78	40	0.3
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI	$47,260	$22.72	190	0.3
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$47,220	$22.70	220	0.1
Syracuse, NY	$46,780	$22.49	60	0.2
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY	$46,410	$22.31	80	0.1
York-Hanover, PA	$46,350	$22.29	370	2.0
Twin Falls, ID	$46,010	$22.12	130	2.6
Visalia, CA	$45,880	$22.06	70	0.4
Reading, PA	$45,470	$21.86	80	0.4
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	$45,340	$21.80	150	0.1
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	$45,260	$21.76	300	0.2
Boise City, ID	$45,120	$21.69	360	0.9
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	$44,280	$21.29	1,900	0.4
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR	$44,240	$21.27	30	0.1
Canton-Massillon, OH	$42,950	$20.65	60	0.4
Sioux Falls, SD-MN	$42,860	$20.61	40	0.2
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	$42,760	$20.56	320	0.2
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	$42,710	$20.53	160	0.1
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$41,800	$20.09	390	0.4
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	$41,590	$20.00	880	0.1
Knoxville, TN	$41,200	$19.81	210	0.5
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$41,070	$19.74	Not published	Not published
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$41,030	$19.73	190	0.1
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ	$40,740	$19.59	80	0.2
Columbus, OH	$40,650	$19.54	90	0.1
Green Bay, WI	$40,200	$19.33	40	0.2
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	$40,170	$19.31	270	0.1
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	$40,150	$19.30	80	0.1
Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL	$39,960	$19.21	80	0.3
Salem, OR	$39,920	$19.19	110	0.6
Pittsburgh, PA	$39,880	$19.17	90	0.1
Fond du Lac, WI	$39,830	$19.15	30	0.8
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$39,790	$19.13	490	0.2
Cleveland, OH	$39,650	$19.06	100	0.1
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	$39,410	$18.95	40	0.1
Fayetteville, NC	$39,230	$18.86	50	0.4
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$38,890	$18.70	510	0.2
Tulsa, OK	$38,750	$18.63	190	0.4
St. Louis, MO-IL	$38,690	$18.60	230	0.2
Vallejo, CA	$38,640	$18.58	50	0.4
Oklahoma City, OK	$38,480	$18.50	140	0.2
Fresno, CA	$38,430	$18.48	160	0.3
Florence, SC	$38,220	$18.37	260	2.9
Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT	$38,060	$18.30	170	0.6
Richmond, VA	$38,030	$18.28	80	0.1
Altoona, PA	$37,530	$18.04	70	1.2
Springfield, MO	$37,400	$17.98	40	0.2
Joplin, MO-KS	$37,190	$17.88	80	1.0
Jacksonville, FL	$36,890	$17.73	90	0.1
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	$36,740	$17.67	520	0.4
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV	$36,610	$17.60	Not published	Not published
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL	$36,520	$17.56	200	0.1
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$36,450	$17.52	130	0.1
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	$36,190	$17.40	290	0.1
El Paso, TX	$36,120	$17.37	90	0.3
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	$35,890	$17.25	160	0.1
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX	$35,350	$17.00	330	0.3
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	$35,240	$16.94	850	0.2
Kansas City, MO-KS	$34,200	$16.44	270	0.2
Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV	$33,280	$16.00	50	0.4
Greensboro-High Point, NC	$33,120	$15.92	50	0.1
Raleigh-Cary, NC	$32,740	$15.74	120	0.2
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	$32,180	$15.47	600	0.2
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX	$30,340	$14.59	530	0.5
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX	$26,950	$12.96	30	0.1
San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR	$25,480	$12.25	210	0.3
Baton Rouge, LA	$23,600	$11.34	50	0.1
Toledo, OH	Not published	Not published	70	0.2

About this data. Estimates are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 release, retrieved from bls.gov/oes/tables.htm on July 24, 2026. OEWS estimates describe metropolitan/nonmetropolitan areas and states — not city limits — and are not designed for year-over-year comparisons. See BLS methodology, our plain-English methodology, and sources. CitySalaryData is independent and not affiliated with BLS.