Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders Salary in Salem, OR

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Salem, OR

Median annual salary $38,670 -4.6% vs national
Median hourly $18.59
10th percentile $36,940
90th percentile $47,970
Employed locally 130
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
Salem, OR
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $36,940
    25th
    $38,670
    50th (median)
    $38,670
    75th
    $45,510
    90th
    $47,970

    Salem economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $76,010 2023 • Census ACS
    Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary vs area income 51% Median Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary is 49% 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
    Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area $62,910
    Central East New York nonmetropolitan area $60,250
    Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $55,630
    Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area $53,970
    Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area $49,970
    York-Hanover, PA $49,940

    Related occupations in Salem, OR

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$44,220
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$59,950
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$36,390
    Food Batchmakers$35,380
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$52,520
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$44,480

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Salem, OR is $18.59, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $23.79 or more per hour.

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

    The median Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in Salem, OR is 4.6% 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 Salem?

    Entry-level Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders (10th percentile) earn around $36,940 per year in Salem, OR. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $38,670.