Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in Fresno, CA
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in the Fresno, CA metro area earn a median of $38,430 a year ($18.48 an hour), based on BLS data for 160 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,370 for the lowest-paid 10% to $54,760 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $41,590. Pay here is 14% lower than the California statewide median of $44,740. There are 0.33 food cooking machine operators and tenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $43,090, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Fresno, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,370 | $16.52 |
| 25th percentile | $35,540 | $17.09 |
| Median | $38,430 | $18.48 |
| 75th percentile | $45,330 | $21.80 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $54,760 | $26.33 |
| Average (mean) | $43,090 | $20.71 |
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 | $3,202.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,601.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,478.08 |
| Weekly | $739.04 |
| Hourly | $18.48 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $38,430 salary, see how much house you can afford in California 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Modesto, CA | $59,010 | 140 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $51,560 | 70 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $47,220 | 220 |
| Visalia, CA | $45,880 | 70 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $42,760 | 320 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $41,070 | n/a |
| Vallejo, CA | $38,640 | 50 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $36,450 | 130 |
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 California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Fresno, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $39,420 | $18.95 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $37,500 | $18.03 |
| Baker | $39,260 | $18.88 |
| Food Batchmaker | $37,980 | $18.26 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $36,020 | $17.32 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $39,420 | $18.95 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $38,440 | $18.48 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $42,340 | $20.36 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $72,550 | $34.88 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $44,550 | $21.42 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $50,550 | $24.30 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $36,740 | $17.66 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $40,540 | $19.49 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $36,280 | $17.44 |
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 Fresno, CA?
The median salary for food cooking machine operators and tenders in the Fresno, CA metro area is $38,430 a year, or $18.48 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,370 for the lowest-paid 10% to $54,760 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food cooking machine operators and tenders make in Fresno, CA?
The top 10% of food cooking machine operators and tenders in the Fresno, CA metro area earn at least $54,760 a year. The top 25% earn $45,330 or more.
What is the starting pay for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Fresno, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,370 a year, and a quarter of food cooking machine operators and tenders earn $35,540 or less.
How many food cooking machine operators and tenders work in Fresno, CA?
About 160 food cooking machine operators and tenders are employed in the Fresno, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.