Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders Salary in New Orleans, LA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • New Orleans-Metairie, LA

Median annual salary $47,420 +16.9% vs national
Median hourly $22.80
10th percentile $34,310
90th percentile $58,950
National median $40,550

Compare Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how New Orleans, LA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders
in
New Orleans, LA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $34,310
    25th
    $37,570
    50th (median)
    $47,420
    75th
    $58,930
    90th
    $58,950

    New Orleans economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $62,271 2023 • Census ACS
    Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary vs area income 76% Median Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary is 24% 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
    Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL $48,460
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $45,730
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $44,140
    Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL $43,990
    Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area $40,190
    Fond du Lac, WI $39,830

    Related occupations in New Orleans, LA

    OccupationMedian salary
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$76,010
    Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers$105,860
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$60,590
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$60,480
    Production Workers, All Other$44,560
    Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$78,930

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in New Orleans, LA is $22.80, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $28.34 or more per hour.

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

    The median Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in New Orleans, LA is 16.9% 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 New Orleans?

    Entry-level Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders (10th percentile) earn around $34,310 per year in New Orleans, LA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $37,570.