Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders Salary in Central North Carolina

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area

Median annual salary $43,520 +7.3% vs national
Median hourly $20.93
10th percentile $30,360
90th percentile $65,220
Employed locally 80
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
Central North Carolina
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $30,360
    25th
    $37,310
    50th (median)
    $43,520
    75th
    $56,020
    90th
    $65,220

    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

    Related occupations in Central North Carolina

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $37,350
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $63,860
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $40,410
    Production Workers, All Other $38,000
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders $42,640
    Food Processing Workers, All Other $43,020

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders make per hour in Central North Carolina?

    The median hourly wage for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Central North Carolina is $20.93, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $21.76 or more per hour.

    Is Central North Carolina above or below average for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salaries?

    The median Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in Central North Carolina is 7.3% 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 Central North Carolina?

    Entry-level Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders (10th percentile) earn around $30,360 per year in Central North Carolina. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $37,310.