Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders Salary in Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD

Median annual salary $37,430 -7.7% vs national
Median hourly $17.99
10th percentile $31,470
90th percentile $46,730
Employed locally 560
National median $40,550

Compare Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary & buying power

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Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $31,470
    25th
    $35,390
    50th (median)
    $37,430
    75th
    $42,280
    90th
    $46,730

    Philadelphia economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.80% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $89,273 2023 • Census ACS
    Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary vs area income 42% Median Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary is 58% 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
    York-Hanover, PA $49,940
    Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA $47,540
    Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ $40,740
    Erie, PA $38,220
    Pittsburgh, PA $36,250

    Related occupations in Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$42,770
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$77,290
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$49,700
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$40,840
    Bakers$36,160
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$56,110

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD is $17.99, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $23.67 or more per hour.

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

    The median Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD is 7.7% 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 Philadelphia?

    Entry-level Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders (10th percentile) earn around $31,470 per year in Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $35,390.