Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in Idaho
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Idaho earn a median of $45,120 a year ($21.69 an hour), based on BLS data for 790 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,630 for the lowest-paid 10% to $75,380 for the top 10%. That is 8% higher than the national median of $41,590. Idaho ranks 12th of 41 states for food cooking machine operators and tenders pay. There are 0.93 food cooking machine operators and tenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 4.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $50,040, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Idaho
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,630 | $17.61 |
| 25th percentile | $38,520 | $18.52 |
| Median | $45,120 | $21.69 |
| 75th percentile | $59,310 | $28.52 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $75,380 | $36.24 |
| Average (mean) | $50,040 | $24.06 |
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 | $3,760 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,880 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,735.38 |
| Weekly | $867.69 |
| Hourly | $21.69 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $45,120 salary, see how much house you can afford in Idaho at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in cities in Idaho
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Twin Falls, ID | $46,010 | 130 |
| Boise City, ID | $45,120 | 360 |
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 Idaho
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Baker | $34,060 | $16.38 |
| Food Batchmaker | $49,570 | $23.83 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $38,030 | $18.28 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $40,370 | $19.41 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $48,250 | $23.20 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $39,200 | $18.84 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $46,820 | $22.51 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $44,210 | $21.26 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $46,720 | $22.46 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $70,890 | $34.08 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $50,530 | $24.30 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $45,130 | $21.70 |
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $52,210 | $25.10 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $39,980 | $19.22 |
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 Idaho?
The median salary for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Idaho is $45,120 a year, or $21.69 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,630 for the lowest-paid 10% to $75,380 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food cooking machine operators and tenders make in Idaho?
The top 10% of food cooking machine operators and tenders in Idaho earn at least $75,380 a year. The top 25% earn $59,310 or more.
What is the starting pay for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Idaho?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,630 a year, and a quarter of food cooking machine operators and tenders earn $38,520 or less.
How many food cooking machine operators and tenders work in Idaho?
About 790 food cooking machine operators and tenders are employed in Idaho, not counting the self-employed.