Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders Salary in St. Louis, MO-IL

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • St. Louis, MO-IL

Median annual salary $35,350 -12.8% vs national
Median hourly $17.00
10th percentile $35,170
90th percentile $92,780
Employed locally 170
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
    $35,170
    25th
    $35,350
    50th (median)
    $35,350
    75th
    $45,730
    90th
    $92,780

    St. Louis economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.70% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $78,225 2023 • Census ACS
    Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary vs area income 45% Median Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary is 55% 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
    Modesto, CA $80,310
    Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL $48,460
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $45,730
    Richmond, VA $38,030
    Joplin, MO-KS $37,190
    Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $36,810

    Related occupations in St. Louis, MO-IL

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $43,790
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $75,210
    Machinists $60,850
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $51,530
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders $44,780
    Production Workers, All Other $39,610

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders make per hour in St. Louis?

    The median hourly wage for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in St. Louis, MO-IL is $17.00, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $23.59 or more per hour.

    Is St. Louis above or below average for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salaries?

    The median Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in St. Louis, MO-IL is 12.8% 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 St. Louis?

    Entry-level Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders (10th percentile) earn around $35,170 per year in St. Louis, MO-IL. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $35,350.