Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders Salary in Columbus, OH

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Columbus, OH

Median annual salary $40,650 +0.2% vs national
Median hourly $19.54
10th percentile $34,740
90th percentile $45,800
Employed locally 90
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
Columbus, OH
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $34,740
    25th
    $40,650
    50th (median)
    $40,650
    75th
    $45,800
    90th
    $45,800

    Columbus economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $79,847 2023 • Census ACS
    Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary vs area income 51% Median Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary is 49% 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
    Lima, OH $42,290
    Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $40,680
    West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area $39,890
    Ohio $38,740
    Cleveland, OH $38,600
    Canton-Massillon, OH $38,160

    Related occupations in Columbus, OH

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$45,880
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$46,690
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$70,110
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$42,500
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$50,400
    Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$46,770

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Columbus, OH is $19.54, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $22.02 or more per hour.

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

    The median Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in Columbus, OH is 0.2% 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 Columbus?

    Entry-level Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders (10th percentile) earn around $34,740 per year in Columbus, OH. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $40,650.