Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in Illinois
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Illinois earn a median of $42,670 a year ($20.51 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,460 workers.
Pay ranges from $32,480 for the lowest-paid 10% to $51,320 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $41,590. Illinois ranks 19th of 41 states for food cooking machine operators and tenders pay. There are 0.40 food cooking machine operators and tenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.0× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $42,590, close to the median.
Pay range for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,480 | $15.62 |
| 25th percentile | $36,490 | $17.54 |
| Median | $42,670 | $20.51 |
| 75th percentile | $47,200 | $22.69 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $51,320 | $24.67 |
| Average (mean) | $42,590 | $20.48 |
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 | $3,555.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,777.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,641.15 |
| Weekly | $820.58 |
| Hourly | $20.51 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $42,670 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $48,460 | 100 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $44,280 | 1,900 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $38,690 | 230 |
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 Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Baker | $37,030 | $17.80 |
| Food Batchmaker | $48,130 | $23.14 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $39,240 | $18.86 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $40,690 | $19.56 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $44,950 | $21.61 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $45,340 | $21.80 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $38,230 | $18.38 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $44,140 | $21.22 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $47,920 | $23.04 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $75,200 | $36.16 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,150 | $20.75 |
| Machinist | $58,520 | $28.13 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $51,320 | $24.67 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $42,470 | $20.42 |
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 Illinois?
The median salary for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Illinois is $42,670 a year, or $20.51 an hour. Pay ranges from $32,480 for the lowest-paid 10% to $51,320 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food cooking machine operators and tenders make in Illinois?
The top 10% of food cooking machine operators and tenders in Illinois earn at least $51,320 a year. The top 25% earn $47,200 or more.
What is the starting pay for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $32,480 a year, and a quarter of food cooking machine operators and tenders earn $36,490 or less.
How many food cooking machine operators and tenders work in Illinois?
About 2,460 food cooking machine operators and tenders are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.