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As of October 2025, the average salary for a Food Cooking Machine Operator stands at approximately $31,054 per year or $15 per hour. Factors influencing this salary include geographical location, experience level, and the specific industry sector.
Entry-level positions typically start around $14.93 per hour, while those with more experience can earn significantly more, especially in high-demand areas. The potential for overtime may also enhance earnings.
Operators working in larger metropolitan areas or specialized food production facilities often enjoy higher salaries. States like California and New York frequently report the highest wages for this role.
This role not only offers a competitive salary but also opens doors to various career paths within the food industry, including supervisory and management positions as skills develop.
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The average food cooking machine operator salary in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average food cooking machine operator salary states are Idaho, Tennessee, and Mississippi.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $37,715 | $18.13 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $38,097 | $18.32 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $37,885 | $18.21 |
| 4 | Alaska | $37,800 | $18.17 |
| 5 | South Dakota | $35,969 | $17.29 |
| 6 | Michigan | $36,553 | $17.57 |
| 7 | Vermont | $38,297 | $18.41 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $36,839 | $17.71 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $37,372 | $17.97 |
| 10 | Iowa | $35,220 | $16.93 |
| 11 | Ohio | $35,290 | $16.97 |
| 12 | Maine | $36,960 | $17.77 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $35,851 | $17.24 |
| 14 | Montana | $36,426 | $17.51 |
| 15 | Kentucky | $33,766 | $16.23 |
| 16 | Delaware | $35,524 | $17.08 |
| 17 | Illinois | $35,500 | $17.07 |
| 18 | West Virginia | $34,482 | $16.58 |
| 19 | Maryland | $34,936 | $16.80 |
| 20 | Washington | $36,369 | $17.49 |
| 21 | New York | $37,174 | $17.87 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $34,057 | $16.37 |
| 23 | Kansas | $33,782 | $16.24 |
| 24 | Nevada | $34,807 | $16.73 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $32,703 | $15.72 |
| 26 | North Dakota | $34,391 | $16.53 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $33,397 | $16.06 |
| 28 | Hawaii | $33,327 | $16.02 |
| 29 | District of Columbia | $34,684 | $16.68 |
| 30 | Arkansas | $32,571 | $15.66 |
| 31 | South Carolina | $31,551 | $15.17 |
| 32 | Arizona | $32,694 | $15.72 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $31,214 | $15.01 |
| 34 | New Mexico | $33,499 | $16.11 |
| 35 | Oregon | $34,014 | $16.35 |
| 36 | Texas | $32,456 | $15.60 |
| 37 | Colorado | $33,994 | $16.34 |
| 38 | Virginia | $32,629 | $15.69 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $31,722 | $15.25 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $28,497 | $13.70 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $31,026 | $14.92 |
| 42 | Utah | $30,956 | $14.88 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $28,338 | $13.62 |
| 44 | Indiana | $28,174 | $13.55 |
| 45 | Missouri | $30,248 | $14.54 |
| 46 | Alabama | $29,384 | $14.13 |
| 47 | Georgia | $27,848 | $13.39 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $29,903 | $14.38 |
| 49 | Florida | $28,094 | $13.51 |
| 50 | California | $31,599 | $15.19 |
| 51 | Idaho | $29,011 | $13.95 |
The highest-paying cities for food cooking machine operators are Clara City, MN, Lampasas, TX, and Oklahoma City, OK.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clara City, MN | $35,594 | $17.11 |
| 2 | Lampasas, TX | $32,513 | $15.63 |
| 3 | Oklahoma City, OK | $29,884 | $14.37 |
A food cooking machine operator's salary ranges from $24,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $40,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
| 75th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
| Average | $31,054 | $2,588 | $15 |
| 25th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $24,000 | $2,000 | $12 |
The highest paying types of food cooking machine operators are sugar boiler, cooker mechanic, and fryer operator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Machine Operator | $32,874 | $2,740 | $15.80 | 96,834 |
Top companies hiring food cooking machine operators now:
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HW Staffing Solutions | $27,664 | $13.30 |
The average food cooking machine operator salary has risen by $7,987 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average food cooking machine operator earned $23,067 annually, but today, they earn $31,054 a year. That works out to a 16% change in pay for food cooking machine operators over the last decade.
Compare food cooking machine operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare food cooking machine operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $31,100 | $14.93 | +5.8% |
| 2024 | $29,300 | $14.07 | +3.2% |
| 2023 | $28,300 | $13.62 | +5.6% |
| 2022 | $26,700 | $12.85 | +0.2% |
| 2021 | $26,700 | $12.82 | +2.1% |
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