Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in Missouri
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Missouri earn a median of $42,160 a year ($20.27 an hour), based on BLS data for 620 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,810 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,020 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $41,590. Missouri ranks 20th of 41 states for food cooking machine operators and tenders pay. There are 0.21 food cooking machine operators and tenders per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $44,440, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Missouri
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,810 | $13.85 |
| 25th percentile | $36,520 | $17.56 |
| Median | $42,160 | $20.27 |
| 75th percentile | $48,600 | $23.37 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $57,020 | $27.42 |
| Average (mean) | $44,440 | $21.37 |
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 | $3,513.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,756.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,621.54 |
| Weekly | $810.77 |
| Hourly | $20.27 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $42,160 salary, see how much house you can afford in Missouri at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in cities in Missouri
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $38,690 | 230 |
| Springfield, MO | $37,400 | 40 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | $37,190 | 80 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $34,200 | 270 |
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 Missouri
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Baker | $35,130 | $16.89 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $41,890 | $20.14 |
| Food Batchmaker | $45,690 | $21.96 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $37,860 | $18.20 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $44,050 | $21.18 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $44,490 | $21.39 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,460 | $20.89 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $46,480 | $22.35 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $73,210 | $35.20 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $48,070 | $23.11 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $54,420 | $26.17 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $51,950 | $24.98 |
| Machinist | $58,710 | $28.23 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $38,470 | $18.50 |
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 Missouri?
The median salary for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Missouri is $42,160 a year, or $20.27 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,810 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,020 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food cooking machine operators and tenders make in Missouri?
The top 10% of food cooking machine operators and tenders in Missouri earn at least $57,020 a year. The top 25% earn $48,600 or more.
What is the starting pay for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Missouri?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,810 a year, and a quarter of food cooking machine operators and tenders earn $36,520 or less.
How many food cooking machine operators and tenders work in Missouri?
About 620 food cooking machine operators and tenders are employed in Missouri, not counting the self-employed.