Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in Indiana
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Indiana earn a median of $43,350 a year ($20.84 an hour), based on BLS data for 540 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $51,730 for the top 10%. That is 4% higher than the national median of $41,590. Indiana ranks 17th of 41 states for food cooking machine operators and tenders pay. There are 0.17 food cooking machine operators and tenders per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $44,770, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Indiana
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,820 | $18.66 |
| 25th percentile | $40,280 | $19.37 |
| Median | $43,350 | $20.84 |
| 75th percentile | $47,400 | $22.79 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $51,730 | $24.87 |
| Average (mean) | $44,770 | $21.53 |
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 | $3,612.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,806.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,667.31 |
| Weekly | $833.65 |
| Hourly | $20.84 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $43,350 salary, see how much house you can afford in Indiana at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in cities in Indiana
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $44,280 | 1,900 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $41,800 | 390 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $40,150 | 80 |
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 Indiana
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Batchmaker | $39,700 | $19.09 |
| Baker | $36,150 | $17.38 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $42,450 | $20.41 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $42,440 | $20.40 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $43,770 | $21.05 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $41,250 | $19.83 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,370 | $20.85 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $45,550 | $21.90 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $73,950 | $35.55 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $47,900 | $23.03 |
| Machinist | $57,800 | $27.79 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $49,730 | $23.91 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,600 | $21.44 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $48,590 | $23.36 |
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 Indiana?
The median salary for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Indiana is $43,350 a year, or $20.84 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $51,730 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food cooking machine operators and tenders make in Indiana?
The top 10% of food cooking machine operators and tenders in Indiana earn at least $51,730 a year. The top 25% earn $47,400 or more.
What is the starting pay for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Indiana?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,820 a year, and a quarter of food cooking machine operators and tenders earn $40,280 or less.
How many food cooking machine operators and tenders work in Indiana?
About 540 food cooking machine operators and tenders are employed in Indiana, not counting the self-employed.