Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders Salary in East Tennessee

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area

Median annual salary $22,730 -43.9% vs national
Median hourly $10.93
10th percentile $20,800
90th percentile $33,560
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
East Tennessee
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $20,800
    25th
    $20,800
    50th (median)
    $22,730
    75th
    $30,460
    90th
    $33,560

    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 East Tennessee

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $41,980
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $59,240
    Production Workers, All Other $41,560
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $44,260
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $46,150
    Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders $44,530

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in East Tennessee is $10.93, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $16.13 or more per hour.

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

    The median Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in East Tennessee is 43.9% below 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 East Tennessee?

    Entry-level Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders (10th percentile) earn around $20,800 per year in East Tennessee. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $20,800.