Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in Arkansas
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Arkansas earn a median of $40,480 a year ($19.46 an hour), based on BLS data for 330 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,660 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,930 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $41,590. Arkansas ranks 23rd of 41 states for food cooking machine operators and tenders pay. There are 0.26 food cooking machine operators and tenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $42,180, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Arkansas
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,660 | $16.66 |
| 25th percentile | $38,180 | $18.36 |
| Median | $40,480 | $19.46 |
| 75th percentile | $46,310 | $22.26 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,930 | $23.52 |
| Average (mean) | $42,180 | $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 | $3,373.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,686.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,556.92 |
| Weekly | $778.46 |
| Hourly | $19.46 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $40,480 salary, see how much house you can afford in Arkansas at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in cities in Arkansas
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $55,270 | 190 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $44,240 | 30 |
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 Arkansas
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $37,980 | $18.26 |
| Baker | $30,380 | $14.61 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $37,800 | $18.17 |
| Food Batchmaker | $38,990 | $18.75 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $37,840 | $18.19 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $34,380 | $16.53 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $45,080 | $21.67 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $36,990 | $17.78 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $63,090 | $30.33 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $35,540 | $17.09 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $47,970 | $23.06 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $44,570 | $21.43 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $37,740 | $18.15 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $36,030 | $17.32 |
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 Arkansas?
The median salary for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Arkansas is $40,480 a year, or $19.46 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,660 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,930 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food cooking machine operators and tenders make in Arkansas?
The top 10% of food cooking machine operators and tenders in Arkansas earn at least $48,930 a year. The top 25% earn $46,310 or more.
What is the starting pay for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Arkansas?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,660 a year, and a quarter of food cooking machine operators and tenders earn $38,180 or less.
How many food cooking machine operators and tenders work in Arkansas?
About 330 food cooking machine operators and tenders are employed in Arkansas, not counting the self-employed.