Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in Reading, PA
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in the Reading, PA metro area earn a median of $45,470 a year ($21.86 an hour), based on BLS data for 80 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,680 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,720 for the top 10%. That is 9% higher than the national median of $41,590. Pay here is 6% higher than the Pennsylvania statewide median of $42,710. There are 0.45 food cooking machine operators and tenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $43,480, close to the median.
Pay range for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Reading, PA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,680 | $17.63 |
| 25th percentile | $41,090 | $19.75 |
| Median | $45,470 | $21.86 |
| 75th percentile | $45,470 | $21.86 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,720 | $21.98 |
| Average (mean) | $43,480 | $20.91 |
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 | $3,789.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,894.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,748.85 |
| Weekly | $874.42 |
| Hourly | $21.86 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $45,470 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 other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $57,490 | 110 |
| York-Hanover, PA | $46,350 | 370 |
| 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 or the Pennsylvania statewide figures.
Related jobs in Reading, PA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Batchmaker | $44,220 | $21.26 |
| Baker | $35,730 | $17.18 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $36,920 | $17.75 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $39,230 | $18.86 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $45,860 | $22.05 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $78,200 | $37.60 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $49,170 | $23.64 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,010 | $21.16 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $54,840 | $26.36 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $54,350 | $26.13 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $54,470 | $26.19 |
| Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $70,310 | $33.80 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $54,760 | $26.33 |
| Machinist | $59,550 | $28.63 |
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 Reading, PA?
The median salary for food cooking machine operators and tenders in the Reading, PA metro area is $45,470 a year, or $21.86 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,680 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,720 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food cooking machine operators and tenders make in Reading, PA?
The top 10% of food cooking machine operators and tenders in the Reading, PA metro area earn at least $45,720 a year. The top 25% earn $45,470 or more.
What is the starting pay for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Reading, PA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,680 a year, and a quarter of food cooking machine operators and tenders earn $41,090 or less.
How many food cooking machine operators and tenders work in Reading, PA?
About 80 food cooking machine operators and tenders are employed in the Reading, PA metro area, not counting the self-employed.