Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders Salary in Modesto, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Modesto, CA

Median annual salary $80,310 +98.1% vs national
Median hourly $38.61
10th percentile $36,560
90th percentile $80,340
Employed locally 150
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
Modesto, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $36,560
    25th
    $47,680
    50th (median)
    $80,310
    75th
    $80,310
    90th
    $80,340

    Modesto economic context

    Unemployment rate 6.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $79,661 2023 • Census ACS
    Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary vs area income 101% Median Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary is 1% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders

    Metro areaMedian salary
    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
    Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $55,630

    Nearby metros — Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Merced, CA $46,530
    Fresno, CA $46,430
    Visalia, CA $45,880
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $45,730
    Stockton-Lodi, CA $45,190
    California $44,720

    Related occupations in Modesto, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders $56,990
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $77,270
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $43,720
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $51,920
    Food Processing Workers, All Other $39,820
    Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders $56,430

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Modesto, CA is $38.61, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $39.87 or more per hour.

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

    The median Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in Modesto, CA is 98.1% 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 Modesto?

    Entry-level Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders (10th percentile) earn around $36,560 per year in Modesto, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $47,680.