Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in Richmond, VA
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in the Richmond, VA metro area earn a median of $38,030 a year ($18.28 an hour), based on BLS data for 80 workers.
Pay ranges from $32,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,590 for the top 10%. That is 9% lower than the national median of $41,590. Pay here is 8% higher than the Virginia statewide median of $35,140. There are 0.12 food cooking machine operators and tenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.57). The average (mean) salary is $37,320, close to the median.
Pay range for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Richmond, VA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,080 | $15.42 |
| 25th percentile | $32,080 | $15.42 |
| Median | $38,030 | $18.28 |
| 75th percentile | $38,640 | $18.58 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,590 | $21.92 |
| Average (mean) | $37,320 | $17.94 |
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 | $3,169.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,584.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,462.69 |
| Weekly | $731.35 |
| Hourly | $18.28 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $38,030 salary, see how much house you can afford in Virginia 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $39,790 | 490 |
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 Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Richmond, VA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Baker | $31,500 | $15.14 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $40,120 | $19.29 |
| Food Batchmaker | $37,190 | $17.88 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $37,630 | $18.09 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $38,240 | $18.39 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $39,060 | $18.78 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $73,630 | $35.40 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,180 | $21.24 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,710 | $23.42 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $57,710 | $27.74 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $33,220 | $15.97 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $49,980 | $24.03 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $61,840 | $29.73 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $38,220 | $18.37 |
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 Richmond, VA?
The median salary for food cooking machine operators and tenders in the Richmond, VA metro area is $38,030 a year, or $18.28 an hour. Pay ranges from $32,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,590 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food cooking machine operators and tenders make in Richmond, VA?
The top 10% of food cooking machine operators and tenders in the Richmond, VA metro area earn at least $45,590 a year. The top 25% earn $38,640 or more.
What is the starting pay for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Richmond, VA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $32,080 a year, and a quarter of food cooking machine operators and tenders earn $32,080 or less.
How many food cooking machine operators and tenders work in Richmond, VA?
About 80 food cooking machine operators and tenders are employed in the Richmond, VA metro area, not counting the self-employed.