Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in New Jersey
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in New Jersey earn a median of $37,180 a year ($17.88 an hour), based on BLS data for 430 workers.
Pay ranges from $32,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,170 for the top 10%. That is 11% lower than the national median of $41,590. New Jersey ranks 32nd of 41 states for food cooking machine operators and tenders pay. There are 0.10 food cooking machine operators and tenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.50). The average (mean) salary is $37,880, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food cooking machine operators and tenders in New Jersey
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,220 | $15.49 |
| 25th percentile | $32,290 | $15.52 |
| Median | $37,180 | $17.88 |
| 75th percentile | $41,350 | $19.88 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,170 | $21.72 |
| Average (mean) | $37,880 | $18.21 |
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 | $3,098.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,549.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,430 |
| Weekly | $715 |
| Hourly | $17.88 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $37,180 salary, see how much house you can afford in New Jersey at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in cities in New Jersey
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $41,590 | 880 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $40,740 | 80 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $38,890 | 510 |
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 New Jersey
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Baker | $36,960 | $17.77 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $38,540 | $18.53 |
| Food Batchmaker | $38,250 | $18.39 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $45,230 | $21.75 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $34,670 | $16.67 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $37,140 | $17.86 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $34,930 | $16.79 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $37,620 | $18.09 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $81,110 | $38.99 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $49,140 | $23.62 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $40,280 | $19.37 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $56,500 | $27.17 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $45,800 | $22.02 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $36,050 | $17.33 |
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 New Jersey?
The median salary for food cooking machine operators and tenders in New Jersey is $37,180 a year, or $17.88 an hour. Pay ranges from $32,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,170 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food cooking machine operators and tenders make in New Jersey?
The top 10% of food cooking machine operators and tenders in New Jersey earn at least $45,170 a year. The top 25% earn $41,350 or more.
What is the starting pay for food cooking machine operators and tenders in New Jersey?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $32,220 a year, and a quarter of food cooking machine operators and tenders earn $32,290 or less.
How many food cooking machine operators and tenders work in New Jersey?
About 430 food cooking machine operators and tenders are employed in New Jersey, not counting the self-employed.