Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders Salary in Nashville, TN

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN

Median annual salary $46,790 +15.4% vs national
Median hourly $22.50
10th percentile $31,920
90th percentile $56,470
Employed locally 220
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
Nashville, TN
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $31,920
    25th
    $38,460
    50th (median)
    $46,790
    75th
    $51,810
    90th
    $56,470

    Nashville economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.80% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $82,499 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
    Memphis, TN-MS-AR $45,500
    Knoxville, TN $41,200

    Related occupations in Nashville, TN

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $49,090
    Production Workers, All Other $39,100
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $45,870
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $66,790
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $50,660
    Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers $35,710

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Nashville, TN is $22.50, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $30.29 or more per hour.

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

    The median Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in Nashville, TN is 15.4% 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 Nashville?

    Entry-level Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders (10th percentile) earn around $31,920 per year in Nashville, TN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $38,460.