Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders Salary in Southeast Minnesota

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area

Median annual salary $42,100 +3.8% vs national
Median hourly $20.24
10th percentile $34,850
90th percentile $46,020
Employed locally 50
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
Southeast Minnesota
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $34,850
    25th
    $40,710
    50th (median)
    $42,100
    75th
    $44,200
    90th
    $46,020

    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 Southeast Minnesota

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $43,790
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $75,550
    Slaughterers and Meat Packers $40,750
    Food Batchmakers $34,720
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $52,140
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders $43,890

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Southeast Minnesota is $20.24, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $22.72 or more per hour.

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

    The median Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in Southeast Minnesota is 3.8% 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 Southeast Minnesota?

    Entry-level Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders (10th percentile) earn around $34,850 per year in Southeast Minnesota. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $40,710.