Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders Salary in Allentown, PA-NJ

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ

Median annual salary $40,740 +0.5% vs national
Median hourly $19.59
10th percentile $32,220
90th percentile $46,980
Employed locally 80
National median $40,550

Compare Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Allentown, PA-NJ stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders
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Allentown, PA-NJ
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $32,220
    25th
    $37,800
    50th (median)
    $40,740
    75th
    $44,360
    90th
    $46,980

    Allentown economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $82,602 2023 • Census ACS
    Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary vs area income 49% Median Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary is 51% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Modesto, CA $80,310
    Cedar Rapids, IA $63,690
    Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area $62,910
    Central East New York nonmetropolitan area $60,250
    Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area $59,140
    Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $55,870

    Nearby metros — Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $51,490
    York-Hanover, PA $49,940
    Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA $47,540
    Erie, PA $38,220
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $37,430
    Pittsburgh, PA $36,250

    Related occupations in Allentown, PA-NJ

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$47,080
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$47,220
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$76,140
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$47,460
    Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$43,940
    Machinists$57,370

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders make per hour in Allentown?

    The median hourly wage for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Allentown, PA-NJ is $19.59, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $22.59 or more per hour.

    Is Allentown above or below average for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salaries?

    The median Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in Allentown, PA-NJ is 0.5% above the national median of $40,550. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Allentown?

    Entry-level Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders (10th percentile) earn around $32,220 per year in Allentown, PA-NJ. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $37,800.