Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in Arizona
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Arizona earn a median of $44,050 a year ($21.18 an hour), based on BLS data for 560 workers.
Pay ranges from $32,210 for the lowest-paid 10% to $51,970 for the top 10%. That is 6% higher than the national median of $41,590. Arizona ranks 16th of 41 states for food cooking machine operators and tenders pay. There are 0.17 food cooking machine operators and tenders per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $42,190, close to the median.
Pay range for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Arizona
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,210 | $15.49 |
| 25th percentile | $34,660 | $16.66 |
| Median | $44,050 | $21.18 |
| 75th percentile | $49,690 | $23.89 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $51,970 | $24.98 |
| Average (mean) | $42,190 | $20.28 |
Half of food cooking machine operators and tenders earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,670.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,835.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,694.23 |
| Weekly | $847.12 |
| Hourly | $21.18 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $44,050 salary, see how much house you can afford in Arizona at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in cities in Arizona
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $49,220 | 460 |
Highest-paying states for food cooking machine operators and tenders
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $51,100 |
| Utah | $48,620 |
| Massachusetts | $47,960 |
| Iowa | $47,900 |
| Michigan | $47,260 |
| Minnesota | $47,250 |
| Colorado | $46,900 |
| Kansas | $45,850 |
| New York | $45,680 |
| Tennessee | $45,620 |
See Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders pay in every state.
Related jobs in Arizona
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Baker | $37,700 | $18.12 |
| Food Batchmaker | $40,550 | $19.49 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $45,780 | $22.01 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $48,550 | $23.34 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $45,330 | $21.79 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $49,020 | $23.57 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,010 | $20.68 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $45,080 | $21.67 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $52,100 | $25.05 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $75,330 | $36.22 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $55,600 | $26.73 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $40,560 | $19.50 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $46,110 | $22.17 |
| Machinist | $61,080 | $29.37 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-3093. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food cooking machine operators and tenders make in Arizona?
The median salary for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Arizona is $44,050 a year, or $21.18 an hour. Pay ranges from $32,210 for the lowest-paid 10% to $51,970 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food cooking machine operators and tenders make in Arizona?
The top 10% of food cooking machine operators and tenders in Arizona earn at least $51,970 a year. The top 25% earn $49,690 or more.
What is the starting pay for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Arizona?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $32,210 a year, and a quarter of food cooking machine operators and tenders earn $34,660 or less.
How many food cooking machine operators and tenders work in Arizona?
About 560 food cooking machine operators and tenders are employed in Arizona, not counting the self-employed.