Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in Sioux Falls, SD-MN
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in the Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area earn a median of $42,860 a year ($20.61 an hour), based on BLS data for 40 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,890 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $41,590. Pay here is 9% higher than the South Dakota statewide median of $39,270. There are 0.21 food cooking machine operators and tenders per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $43,880, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Sioux Falls, SD-MN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,800 | $18.17 |
| 25th percentile | $40,030 | $19.24 |
| Median | $42,860 | $20.61 |
| 75th percentile | $48,890 | $23.51 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,890 | $23.51 |
| Average (mean) | $43,880 | $21.10 |
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 | $3,571.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,785.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,648.46 |
| Weekly | $824.23 |
| Hourly | $20.61 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $42,860 salary, see how much house you can afford in South Dakota 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $51,600 | 190 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $48,290 | 230 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $47,380 | 40 |
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 South Dakota statewide figures.
Related jobs in Sioux Falls, SD-MN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Batchmaker | $37,270 | $17.92 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $38,490 | $18.50 |
| Baker | $40,280 | $19.36 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $44,190 | $21.25 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $55,200 | $26.54 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $73,250 | $35.22 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $44,670 | $21.48 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $44,770 | $21.52 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $52,220 | $25.11 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $46,590 | $22.40 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $43,920 | $21.12 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,350 | $21.32 |
| Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters | $45,950 | $22.09 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $38,800 | $18.66 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Sioux Falls, SD-MN
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 Sioux Falls, SD-MN?
The median salary for food cooking machine operators and tenders in the Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area is $42,860 a year, or $20.61 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,890 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food cooking machine operators and tenders make in Sioux Falls, SD-MN?
The top 10% of food cooking machine operators and tenders in the Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area earn at least $48,890 a year. The top 25% earn $48,890 or more.
What is the starting pay for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Sioux Falls, SD-MN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,800 a year, and a quarter of food cooking machine operators and tenders earn $40,030 or less.
How many food cooking machine operators and tenders work in Sioux Falls, SD-MN?
About 40 food cooking machine operators and tenders are employed in the Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area, not counting the self-employed.