Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders Salary in South Arkansas

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area

Median annual salary $37,400 -7.8% vs national
Median hourly $17.98
10th percentile $35,730
90th percentile $45,860
Employed locally 40
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
South Arkansas
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $35,730
    25th
    $36,590
    50th (median)
    $37,400
    75th
    $39,940
    90th
    $45,860

    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

    Related occupations in South Arkansas

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $36,540
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $62,810
    Helpers--Production Workers $35,200
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $41,290
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $44,940
    Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers $36,350

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in South Arkansas is $17.98, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $22.05 or more per hour.

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

    The median Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in South Arkansas is 7.8% 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 South Arkansas?

    Entry-level Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders (10th percentile) earn around $35,730 per year in South Arkansas. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $36,590.