Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in Nebraska
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Nebraska earn a median of $45,420 a year ($21.84 an hour), based on BLS data for 670 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,910 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,390 for the top 10%. That is 9% higher than the national median of $41,590. Nebraska ranks 11th of 41 states for food cooking machine operators and tenders pay. There are 0.65 food cooking machine operators and tenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 3.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $45,030, close to the median.
Pay range for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Nebraska
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,910 | $16.78 |
| 25th percentile | $36,790 | $17.69 |
| Median | $45,420 | $21.84 |
| 75th percentile | $48,420 | $23.28 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $57,390 | $27.59 |
| Average (mean) | $45,030 | $21.65 |
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 | $3,785 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,892.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,746.92 |
| Weekly | $873.46 |
| Hourly | $21.84 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $45,420 salary, see how much house you can afford in Nebraska at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in cities in Nebraska
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $51,600 | 190 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $48,420 | 260 |
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 Nebraska
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $47,580 | $22.88 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $48,910 | $23.52 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $37,630 | $18.09 |
| Food Batchmaker | $41,210 | $19.81 |
| Baker | $35,280 | $16.96 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,410 | $20.87 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $45,470 | $21.86 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $72,200 | $34.71 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $46,220 | $22.22 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $52,220 | $25.10 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $51,270 | $24.65 |
| Printing Press Operator | $42,070 | $20.23 |
| Machinist | $55,860 | $26.86 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $48,690 | $23.41 |
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 Nebraska?
The median salary for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Nebraska is $45,420 a year, or $21.84 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,910 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,390 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food cooking machine operators and tenders make in Nebraska?
The top 10% of food cooking machine operators and tenders in Nebraska earn at least $57,390 a year. The top 25% earn $48,420 or more.
What is the starting pay for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Nebraska?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,910 a year, and a quarter of food cooking machine operators and tenders earn $36,790 or less.
How many food cooking machine operators and tenders work in Nebraska?
About 670 food cooking machine operators and tenders are employed in Nebraska, not counting the self-employed.