Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders Salary in the United States
As of May 2025, the median annual wage for food cooking machine operators and tenders in the United States was $41,590 ($20.00 per hour), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES survey.
Annual Salary Percentiles
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $31,680 | $15.23 |
| 25th | $36,190 | $17.40 |
| Median | $41,590 | $20.00 |
| 75th | $47,380 | $22.78 |
| 90th | $54,410 | $26.16 |
Quick Facts
- Occupational code: 51-3093
- Total U.S. employment: 31,250
- Jobs per 1,000: —
- Hourly salary breakdown
- All-state comparison
A closer look
At $20.00 per hour, a full-time schedule (2,080 hours per year) works out to roughly $41,600 — in line with the reported median annual wage of $41,590.
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders Salary by State
The table below ranks every state by median annual wage. Click a state for detailed local data.
| State | Median Annual | Median Hourly | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $27,080 | $13.02 | -34.9% | 250 |
| Arizona | $44,050 | $21.18 | +5.9% | 560 |
| Arkansas | $40,480 | $19.46 | -2.7% | 330 |
| California | $44,740 | $21.51 | +7.6% | 2,010 |
| Colorado | $46,900 | $22.55 | +12.8% | 300 |
| Connecticut | $38,880 | $18.69 | -6.5% | 60 |
| Delaware | $31,240 | $15.02 | -24.9% | 0 |
| Florida | $36,450 | $17.53 | -12.4% | 970 |
| Georgia | $38,440 | $18.48 | -7.6% | 690 |
| Idaho | $45,120 | $21.69 | +8.5% | 790 |
| Illinois | $42,670 | $20.51 | +2.6% | 2,460 |
| Indiana | $43,350 | $20.84 | +4.2% | 540 |
| Iowa | $47,900 | $23.03 | +15.2% | 850 |
| Kansas | $45,850 | $22.04 | +10.2% | 750 |
| Kentucky | $41,800 | $20.09 | +0.5% | 300 |
| Louisiana | $44,440 | $21.37 | +6.9% | 550 |
| Maine | $37,500 | $18.03 | -9.8% | 170 |
| Maryland | $36,960 | $17.77 | -11.1% | 0 |
| Massachusetts | $47,960 | $23.06 | +15.3% | 170 |
| Michigan | $47,260 | $22.72 | +13.6% | 380 |
| Minnesota | $47,250 | $22.72 | +13.6% | 1,410 |
| Mississippi | $31,150 | $14.98 | -25.1% | 110 |
| Missouri | $42,160 | $20.27 | +1.4% | 620 |
| Nebraska | $45,420 | $21.84 | +9.2% | 670 |
| Nevada | $36,610 | $17.60 | -12.0% | 0 |
| New Hampshire | $40,440 | $19.44 | -2.8% | 110 |
| New Jersey | $37,180 | $17.88 | -10.6% | 430 |
| New York | $45,680 | $21.96 | +9.8% | 1,300 |
| North Carolina | $39,070 | $18.79 | -6.1% | 770 |
| Ohio | $41,160 | $19.79 | -1.0% | 980 |
| Oklahoma | $36,030 | $17.32 | -13.4% | 1,140 |
| Oregon | $44,530 | $21.41 | +7.1% | 570 |
| Pennsylvania | $42,710 | $20.54 | +2.7% | 1,580 |
| South Carolina | $38,220 | $18.37 | -8.1% | 520 |
| South Dakota | $39,270 | $18.88 | -5.6% | 120 |
| Tennessee | $45,620 | $21.93 | +9.7% | 1,820 |
| Texas | $33,980 | $16.34 | -18.3% | 3,180 |
| Utah | $48,620 | $23.37 | +16.9% | 390 |
| Virginia | $35,140 | $16.90 | -15.5% | 510 |
| Washington | $51,100 | $24.57 | +22.9% | 310 |
| Wisconsin | $40,000 | $19.23 | -3.8% | 850 |
Data source: BLS OES state file · U.S. BLS OES survey, May 2025
Related Occupations
- Dental Assistants — $48,070/yr
- Correctional Officers and Jailers — $58,940/yr
- Home Health and Personal Care Aides — $35,800/yr
- Retail Salespersons — $35,410/yr
- Fast Food and Counter Workers — $31,200/yr
- General and Operations Managers — $105,770/yr
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for food cooking machine operators and tenders?
The median annual wage for food cooking machine operators and tenders is $41,590 ($20.00 per hour), according to the BLS OES survey for May 2025.
Which state pays food cooking machine operators and tenders the most?
Wages vary by state. Use the state table above to compare median annual pay across all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
How many food cooking machine operators and tenders are employed in the U.S.?
There are approximately 31,250 food cooking machine operators and tenders employed nationally, per BLS OES.
How much do food cooking machine operators and tenders make per hour?
The median hourly wage is $20.00. See the hourly salary page for the full percentile breakdown.