Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in Florida
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Florida earn a median of $36,450 a year ($17.53 an hour), based on BLS data for 970 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,550 for the top 10%. That is 12% lower than the national median of $41,590. Florida ranks 35th of 41 states for food cooking machine operators and tenders pay. There are 0.10 food cooking machine operators and tenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.49). The average (mean) salary is $38,140, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Florida
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,800 | $14.33 |
| 25th percentile | $31,980 | $15.37 |
| Median | $36,450 | $17.53 |
| 75th percentile | $42,520 | $20.44 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,550 | $22.86 |
| Average (mean) | $38,140 | $18.34 |
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 | $3,037.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,518.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,401.92 |
| Weekly | $700.96 |
| Hourly | $17.53 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $36,450 salary, see how much house you can afford in Florida at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in cities in Florida
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $39,960 | 80 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $36,890 | 90 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $36,520 | 200 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $36,190 | 290 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $35,890 | 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.
Related jobs in Florida
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Baker | $35,870 | $17.24 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $42,790 | $20.57 |
| Food Batchmaker | $35,500 | $17.07 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $31,160 | $14.98 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $41,390 | $19.90 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $34,430 | $16.56 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $35,340 | $16.99 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $38,410 | $18.46 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $63,950 | $30.75 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $47,540 | $22.86 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $50,640 | $24.35 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $32,340 | $15.55 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $37,170 | $17.87 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $37,690 | $18.12 |
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 Florida?
The median salary for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Florida is $36,450 a year, or $17.53 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,550 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food cooking machine operators and tenders make in Florida?
The top 10% of food cooking machine operators and tenders in Florida earn at least $47,550 a year. The top 25% earn $42,520 or more.
What is the starting pay for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Florida?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,800 a year, and a quarter of food cooking machine operators and tenders earn $31,980 or less.
How many food cooking machine operators and tenders work in Florida?
About 970 food cooking machine operators and tenders are employed in Florida, not counting the self-employed.