Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in Kentucky
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Kentucky earn a median of $41,800 a year ($20.09 an hour), based on BLS data for 300 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $52,990 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $41,590. Kentucky ranks 21st of 41 states for food cooking machine operators and tenders pay. There are 0.15 food cooking machine operators and tenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.74). The average (mean) salary is $43,720, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Kentucky
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,360 | $17.48 |
| 25th percentile | $38,040 | $18.29 |
| Median | $41,800 | $20.09 |
| 75th percentile | $52,780 | $25.38 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $52,990 | $25.48 |
| Average (mean) | $43,720 | $21.02 |
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 | $3,483.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,741.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,607.69 |
| Weekly | $803.85 |
| Hourly | $20.09 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $41,800 salary, see how much house you can afford in Kentucky at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in cities in Kentucky
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Kentucky
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Batchmaker | $46,900 | $22.55 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $35,430 | $17.03 |
| Baker | $33,890 | $16.29 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $39,150 | $18.82 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $37,450 | $18.01 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $48,540 | $23.34 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $38,330 | $18.43 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $47,950 | $23.05 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $72,490 | $34.85 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $46,280 | $22.25 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $45,450 | $21.85 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $45,760 | $22.00 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $51,470 | $24.74 |
| Machinist | $58,660 | $28.20 |
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 Kentucky?
The median salary for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Kentucky is $41,800 a year, or $20.09 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $52,990 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food cooking machine operators and tenders make in Kentucky?
The top 10% of food cooking machine operators and tenders in Kentucky earn at least $52,990 a year. The top 25% earn $52,780 or more.
What is the starting pay for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Kentucky?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,360 a year, and a quarter of food cooking machine operators and tenders earn $38,040 or less.
How many food cooking machine operators and tenders work in Kentucky?
About 300 food cooking machine operators and tenders are employed in Kentucky, not counting the self-employed.