Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in Minnesota
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Minnesota earn a median of $47,250 a year ($22.72 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,410 workers.
Pay ranges from $46,660 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,770 for the top 10%. That is 14% higher than the national median of $41,590. Minnesota ranks 6th of 41 states for food cooking machine operators and tenders pay. There are 0.48 food cooking machine operators and tenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $47,980, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Minnesota
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,660 | $22.43 |
| 25th percentile | $47,130 | $22.66 |
| Median | $47,250 | $22.72 |
| 75th percentile | $48,680 | $23.40 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,770 | $23.93 |
| Average (mean) | $47,980 | $23.07 |
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 | $3,937.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,968.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,817.31 |
| Weekly | $908.65 |
| 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 $47,250 salary, see how much house you can afford in Minnesota at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in cities in Minnesota
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $48,290 | 230 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $47,380 | 40 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $42,860 | 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 Minnesota
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Batchmaker | $42,940 | $20.64 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $43,400 | $20.87 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $43,360 | $20.85 |
| Baker | $40,210 | $19.33 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $41,800 | $20.10 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $43,930 | $21.12 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $50,340 | $24.20 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $46,920 | $22.56 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $78,550 | $37.76 |
| Machinist | $61,140 | $29.39 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $57,170 | $27.49 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $60,280 | $28.98 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $40,960 | $19.69 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $47,720 | $22.94 |
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 Minnesota?
The median salary for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Minnesota is $47,250 a year, or $22.72 an hour. Pay ranges from $46,660 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,770 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food cooking machine operators and tenders make in Minnesota?
The top 10% of food cooking machine operators and tenders in Minnesota earn at least $49,770 a year. The top 25% earn $48,680 or more.
What is the starting pay for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Minnesota?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $46,660 a year, and a quarter of food cooking machine operators and tenders earn $47,130 or less.
How many food cooking machine operators and tenders work in Minnesota?
About 1,410 food cooking machine operators and tenders are employed in Minnesota, not counting the self-employed.