Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders Salary in Eastern North Carolina

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

Median annual salary $42,120 +3.9% vs national
Median hourly $20.25
10th percentile $32,000
90th percentile $42,120
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
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Eastern North Carolina
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $32,000
    25th
    $40,200
    50th (median)
    $42,120
    75th
    $42,120
    90th
    $42,120

    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 Eastern North Carolina

    OccupationMedian salary
    Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers $36,350
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $38,360
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $37,980
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $65,030
    Food Processing Workers, All Other $34,530
    Slaughterers and Meat Packers $37,620

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Eastern North Carolina is $20.25, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $20.91 or more per hour.

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

    The median Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in Eastern North Carolina is 3.9% 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 Eastern North Carolina?

    Entry-level Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders (10th percentile) earn around $32,000 per year in Eastern North Carolina. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $40,200.