Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in Georgia
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Georgia earn a median of $38,440 a year ($18.48 an hour), based on BLS data for 690 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,500 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,280 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $41,590. Georgia ranks 29th of 41 states for food cooking machine operators and tenders pay. There are 0.14 food cooking machine operators and tenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.71). The average (mean) salary is $39,670, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Georgia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,500 | $15.15 |
| 25th percentile | $36,260 | $17.43 |
| Median | $38,440 | $18.48 |
| 75th percentile | $43,020 | $20.68 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,280 | $23.69 |
| Average (mean) | $39,670 | $19.07 |
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 | $3,203.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,601.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,478.46 |
| Weekly | $739.23 |
| 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 $38,440 salary, see how much house you can afford in Georgia at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in cities in Georgia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $40,170 | 270 |
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 Georgia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $39,330 | $18.91 |
| Baker | $35,010 | $16.83 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $37,810 | $18.18 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $38,540 | $18.53 |
| Food Batchmaker | $46,490 | $22.35 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $36,770 | $17.68 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $37,390 | $17.97 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $38,310 | $18.42 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $69,170 | $33.25 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $39,900 | $19.19 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $46,130 | $22.18 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $48,430 | $23.28 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $42,920 | $20.64 |
| Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $38,930 | $18.72 |
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 Georgia?
The median salary for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Georgia is $38,440 a year, or $18.48 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,500 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,280 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food cooking machine operators and tenders make in Georgia?
The top 10% of food cooking machine operators and tenders in Georgia earn at least $49,280 a year. The top 25% earn $43,020 or more.
What is the starting pay for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Georgia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,500 a year, and a quarter of food cooking machine operators and tenders earn $36,260 or less.
How many food cooking machine operators and tenders work in Georgia?
About 690 food cooking machine operators and tenders are employed in Georgia, not counting the self-employed.