Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders Salary in Grand Rapids, MI

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI

Median annual salary $48,190 +18.8% vs national
Median hourly $23.17
10th percentile $41,420
90th percentile $51,050
Employed locally 280
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
Grand Rapids, MI
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $41,420
    25th
    $42,910
    50th (median)
    $48,190
    75th
    $49,210
    90th
    $51,050

    Grand Rapids economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $80,296 2023 • Census ACS
    Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary vs area income 60% Median Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary is 40% 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
    Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area $59,140
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $51,490
    Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area $48,750
    Michigan $48,070
    Minnesota $47,890
    Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area $47,130

    Related occupations in Grand Rapids, MI

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $39,030
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $42,110
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $67,900
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders $44,350
    Machinists $49,750
    Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $45,450

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Grand Rapids, MI is $23.17, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $25.32 or more per hour.

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

    The median Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in Grand Rapids, MI is 18.8% 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 Grand Rapids?

    Entry-level Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders (10th percentile) earn around $41,420 per year in Grand Rapids, MI. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $42,910.