Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in Maine
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Maine earn a median of $37,500 a year ($18.03 an hour), based on BLS data for 170 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $53,150 for the top 10%. That is 10% lower than the national median of $41,590. Maine ranks 31st of 41 states for food cooking machine operators and tenders pay. There are 0.27 food cooking machine operators and tenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $42,170, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Maine
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,990 | $17.30 |
| 25th percentile | $37,140 | $17.86 |
| Median | $37,500 | $18.03 |
| 75th percentile | $49,830 | $23.96 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $53,150 | $25.55 |
| Average (mean) | $42,170 | $20.27 |
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 | $3,125 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,562.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,442.31 |
| Weekly | $721.15 |
| Hourly | $18.03 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $37,500 salary, see how much house you can afford in Maine at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in cities in Maine
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Portland-South Portland, ME | $50,330 | 40 |
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 Maine
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Baker | $37,390 | $17.98 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $38,250 | $18.39 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $39,170 | $18.83 |
| Food Batchmaker | $42,260 | $20.32 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $38,270 | $18.40 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $50,220 | $24.14 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $38,740 | $18.63 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $45,970 | $22.10 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $78,970 | $37.97 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $53,570 | $25.76 |
| Machinist | $59,160 | $28.44 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $62,220 | $29.92 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $47,970 | $23.06 |
| Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters | $48,150 | $23.15 |
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 Maine?
The median salary for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Maine is $37,500 a year, or $18.03 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $53,150 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food cooking machine operators and tenders make in Maine?
The top 10% of food cooking machine operators and tenders in Maine earn at least $53,150 a year. The top 25% earn $49,830 or more.
What is the starting pay for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Maine?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,990 a year, and a quarter of food cooking machine operators and tenders earn $37,140 or less.
How many food cooking machine operators and tenders work in Maine?
About 170 food cooking machine operators and tenders are employed in Maine, not counting the self-employed.