Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in Michigan
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Michigan earn a median of $47,260 a year ($22.72 an hour), based on BLS data for 380 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $54,440 for the top 10%. That is 14% higher than the national median of $41,590. Michigan ranks 5th of 41 states for food cooking machine operators and tenders pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.09 food cooking machine operators and tenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.43). The average (mean) salary is $48,070, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Michigan
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,980 | $19.22 |
| 25th percentile | $43,880 | $21.10 |
| Median | $47,260 | $22.72 |
| 75th percentile | $50,680 | $24.37 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $54,440 | $26.18 |
| Average (mean) | $48,070 | $23.11 |
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 | $3,938.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,969.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,817.69 |
| Weekly | $908.85 |
| Hourly | $22.72 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $47,260 salary, see how much house you can afford in Michigan at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in cities in Michigan
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $48,230 | 50 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $47,260 | 190 |
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 Michigan
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Baker | $35,830 | $17.22 |
| Food Batchmaker | $40,160 | $19.31 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $39,350 | $18.92 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $45,850 | $22.04 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $44,430 | $21.36 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $48,240 | $23.19 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $38,750 | $18.63 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $44,690 | $21.49 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $44,490 | $21.39 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $72,170 | $34.70 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $46,120 | $22.17 |
| Machinist | $52,360 | $25.17 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $37,950 | $18.24 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $39,490 | $18.99 |
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 Michigan?
The median salary for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Michigan is $47,260 a year, or $22.72 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $54,440 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food cooking machine operators and tenders make in Michigan?
The top 10% of food cooking machine operators and tenders in Michigan earn at least $54,440 a year. The top 25% earn $50,680 or more.
What is the starting pay for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Michigan?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,980 a year, and a quarter of food cooking machine operators and tenders earn $43,880 or less.
How many food cooking machine operators and tenders work in Michigan?
About 380 food cooking machine operators and tenders are employed in Michigan, not counting the self-employed.