Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders Salary in Reading, PA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Reading, PA

Median annual salary $35,910 -11.4% vs national

Median hourly $17.27

10th percentile $33,380

90th percentile $52,990

Employed locally 40

National median $40,550

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Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders

Reading, PA

Salary percentile breakdown

10th

$33,380

25th

$35,610

50th (median)

$35,910

75th

$52,990

90th

$52,990

Reading economic context

Unemployment rate 3.70% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS

Median household income $77,684 2023 • Census ACS

Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary vs area income 46% Median Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary is 54% below the area median household income

Top-paying metros for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders

Metro area	Median 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 area	Median 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
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$37,430

Occupation	Median salary
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators	$42,050
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers	$75,670
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers	$51,460
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers	$52,520
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders	$41,230
Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers	$52,590

Frequently asked questions

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

The median hourly wage for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Reading, PA is $17.27, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $21.98 or more per hour.

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

The median Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in Reading, PA is 11.4% 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 Reading?

Entry-level Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders (10th percentile) earn around $33,380 per year in Reading, PA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $35,610.