Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders Salary in McAllen, TX

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX

Median annual salary $26,950 -33.5% vs national
Median hourly $12.96
10th percentile $20,770
90th percentile $39,560
Employed locally 30
National median $40,550

Compare Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how McAllen, TX stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders
in
McAllen, TX
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $20,770
    25th
    $21,510
    50th (median)
    $26,950
    75th
    $34,660
    90th
    $39,560

    McAllen economic context

    Unemployment rate 6.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $52,281 2023 • Census ACS
    Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary vs area income 52% Median Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary is 48% 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
    Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $37,030
    Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $35,420
    Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $31,100
    San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX $30,940
    El Paso, TX $27,880

    Related occupations in McAllen, TX

    OccupationMedian salary
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$52,110
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$36,840
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$28,210
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$39,780
    Bakers$27,300
    Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$36,610

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in McAllen, TX is $12.96, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $19.02 or more per hour.

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

    The median Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in McAllen, TX is 33.5% 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 McAllen?

    Entry-level Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders (10th percentile) earn around $20,770 per year in McAllen, TX. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $21,510.