Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders Salary in Milwaukee, WI

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI

Median annual salary $39,410 -2.8% vs national
Median hourly $18.95
10th percentile $31,200
90th percentile $61,030
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
Milwaukee, WI
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $31,200
    25th
    $34,320
    50th (median)
    $39,410
    75th
    $49,500
    90th
    $61,030

    Milwaukee economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $76,404 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
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $51,490
    Appleton, WI $50,860
    Twin Falls, ID $48,830
    Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA $47,540
    Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $46,330
    Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL $43,990

    Related occupations in Milwaukee, WI

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $44,840
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $76,260
    Machinists $53,010
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $49,580
    Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers $46,090
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $57,370

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Milwaukee, WI is $18.95, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $29.34 or more per hour.

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

    The median Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in Milwaukee, WI is 2.8% 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 Milwaukee?

    Entry-level Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders (10th percentile) earn around $31,200 per year in Milwaukee, WI. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $34,320.