Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders Salary in Dubuque, IA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Dubuque, IA

Median annual salary $50,140 +23.6% vs national
Median hourly $24.11
10th percentile $37,660
90th percentile $50,140
Employed locally 40
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
Dubuque, IA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $37,660
    25th
    $43,670
    50th (median)
    $50,140
    75th
    $50,140
    90th
    $50,140

    Dubuque economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.30% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $75,919 2023 • Census ACS
    Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary vs area income 66% Median Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary is 34% 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
    Cedar Rapids, IA $63,690
    Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $55,630
    Sioux City, IA-NE-SD $50,020
    Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL $48,460
    Visalia, CA $45,880
    South Georgia nonmetropolitan area $45,780

    Related occupations in Dubuque, IA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $45,790
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $72,820
    Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $47,070
    Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators $49,510
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $51,590
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $48,270

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Dubuque, IA is $24.11, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $24.11 or more per hour.

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

    The median Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in Dubuque, IA is 23.6% 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 Dubuque?

    Entry-level Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders (10th percentile) earn around $37,660 per year in Dubuque, IA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $43,670.