Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders Salary in Fort Wayne, IN

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Fort Wayne, IN

Median annual salary $39,350 -3% vs national
Median hourly $18.92
10th percentile $29,970
90th percentile $83,820
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
Fort Wayne, IN
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $29,970
    25th
    $32,310
    50th (median)
    $39,350
    75th
    $50,420
    90th
    $83,820

    Fort Wayne economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $69,378 2023 • Census ACS
    Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary vs area income 57% Median Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary is 43% 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
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $51,490
    Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area $49,970
    Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area $49,060
    Twin Falls, ID $48,830
    Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL $48,460
    Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI $48,190

    Related occupations in Fort Wayne, IN

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $45,100
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $62,020
    Machinists $48,830
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $47,100
    Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $45,730
    Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers $39,780

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Fort Wayne, IN is $18.92, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $40.30 or more per hour.

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

    The median Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in Fort Wayne, IN is 3% 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 Fort Wayne?

    Entry-level Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders (10th percentile) earn around $29,970 per year in Fort Wayne, IN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $32,310.