Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders Salary in Appleton, WI

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Appleton, WI

Median annual salary $50,860 +25.4% vs national
Median hourly $24.45
10th percentile $39,090
90th percentile $63,730
Employed locally 60
National median $40,550

Compare Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary & buying power

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Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders
in
Appleton, WI
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $39,090
    25th
    $39,350
    50th (median)
    $50,860
    75th
    $50,860
    90th
    $63,730

    Appleton economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $83,919 2023 • Census ACS
    Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary vs area income 61% Median Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary is 39% 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
    Twin Falls, ID $48,830
    Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA $47,540
    Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $46,330
    Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL $43,990
    Wisconsin $40,360

    Related occupations in Appleton, WI

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $47,210
    Food Batchmakers $47,280
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $74,820
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $49,830
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $56,640
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders $44,170

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Appleton, WI is $24.45, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $29.62 or more per hour.

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

    The median Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in Appleton, WI is 25.4% 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 Appleton?

    Entry-level Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders (10th percentile) earn around $39,090 per year in Appleton, WI. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $39,350.