Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in Pennsylvania
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Pennsylvania earn a median of $42,710 a year ($20.54 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,580 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,960 for the lowest-paid 10% to $51,520 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $41,590. Pennsylvania ranks 18th of 41 states for food cooking machine operators and tenders pay. There are 0.26 food cooking machine operators and tenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $42,850, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Pennsylvania
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,960 | $16.81 |
| 25th percentile | $37,160 | $17.86 |
| Median | $42,710 | $20.54 |
| 75th percentile | $47,050 | $22.62 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $51,520 | $24.77 |
| Average (mean) | $42,850 | $20.60 |
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 | $3,559.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,779.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,642.69 |
| Weekly | $821.35 |
| Hourly | $20.54 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $42,710 salary, see how much house you can afford in Pennsylvania at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in cities in Pennsylvania
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $57,490 | 110 |
| York-Hanover, PA | $46,350 | 370 |
| Reading, PA | $45,470 | 80 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $40,740 | 80 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $39,880 | 90 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $38,890 | 510 |
| Altoona, PA | $37,530 | 70 |
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 Pennsylvania
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Baker | $36,360 | $17.48 |
| Food Batchmaker | $39,920 | $19.19 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $37,330 | $17.95 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $38,340 | $18.43 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $36,480 | $17.54 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $41,620 | $20.01 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $49,660 | $23.87 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $44,160 | $21.23 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $74,990 | $36.05 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,320 | $23.23 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,480 | $21.39 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $52,900 | $25.43 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $45,600 | $21.92 |
| Machinist | $57,810 | $27.79 |
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 Pennsylvania?
The median salary for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Pennsylvania is $42,710 a year, or $20.54 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,960 for the lowest-paid 10% to $51,520 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food cooking machine operators and tenders make in Pennsylvania?
The top 10% of food cooking machine operators and tenders in Pennsylvania earn at least $51,520 a year. The top 25% earn $47,050 or more.
What is the starting pay for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Pennsylvania?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,960 a year, and a quarter of food cooking machine operators and tenders earn $37,160 or less.
How many food cooking machine operators and tenders work in Pennsylvania?
About 1,580 food cooking machine operators and tenders are employed in Pennsylvania, not counting the self-employed.