Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in Florence, SC
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in the Florence, SC metro area earn a median of $38,220 a year ($18.37 an hour), based on BLS data for 260 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,030 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,140 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $41,590. Pay here is about the same as the South Carolina statewide median of $38,220. There are 2.9 food cooking machine operators and tenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 14.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $39,410, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Florence, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,030 | $18.29 |
| 25th percentile | $38,030 | $18.29 |
| Median | $38,220 | $18.37 |
| 75th percentile | $38,220 | $18.37 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,140 | $22.19 |
| Average (mean) | $39,410 | $18.95 |
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 | $3,185 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,592.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,470 |
| Weekly | $735 |
| Hourly | $18.37 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $38,220 salary, see how much house you can afford in South Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $42,710 | 160 |
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 or the South Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Florence, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $35,710 | $17.17 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $47,960 | $23.06 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $72,560 | $34.88 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $47,280 | $22.73 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $44,990 | $21.63 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,140 | $23.15 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $46,080 | $22.15 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $44,800 | $21.54 |
| Machinist | $56,900 | $27.36 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $42,140 | $20.26 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $30,850 | $14.83 |
| Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood | $45,000 | $21.63 |
| Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing | $42,490 | $20.43 |
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $59,840 | $28.77 |
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 Florence, SC?
The median salary for food cooking machine operators and tenders in the Florence, SC metro area is $38,220 a year, or $18.37 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,030 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,140 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food cooking machine operators and tenders make in Florence, SC?
The top 10% of food cooking machine operators and tenders in the Florence, SC metro area earn at least $46,140 a year. The top 25% earn $38,220 or more.
What is the starting pay for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Florence, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,030 a year, and a quarter of food cooking machine operators and tenders earn $38,030 or less.
How many food cooking machine operators and tenders work in Florence, SC?
About 260 food cooking machine operators and tenders are employed in the Florence, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.