Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders Salary in Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV

Median annual salary $34,040 -16.1% vs national
Median hourly $16.36
10th percentile $30,720
90th percentile $47,660
Employed locally 290
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
    $30,720
    25th
    $30,720
    50th (median)
    $34,040
    75th
    $40,930
    90th
    $47,660

    Washington economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $123,896 2023 • Census ACS
    Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary vs area income 27% Median Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary is 73% 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

    Related occupations in Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV

    OccupationMedian salary
    Bakers $37,160
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $76,750
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $44,650
    Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers $35,420
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $60,040
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $57,220

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV is $16.36, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $19.13 or more per hour.

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

    The median Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV is 16.1% 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 Washington?

    Entry-level Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders (10th percentile) earn around $30,720 per year in Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $30,720.