Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in Tennessee
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Tennessee earn a median of $45,620 a year ($21.93 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,820 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,100 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,560 for the top 10%. That is 10% higher than the national median of $41,590. Tennessee ranks 10th of 41 states for food cooking machine operators and tenders pay. There are 0.56 food cooking machine operators and tenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $46,920, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Tennessee
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,100 | $16.87 |
| 25th percentile | $41,200 | $19.81 |
| Median | $45,620 | $21.93 |
| 75th percentile | $55,270 | $26.57 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,560 | $30.08 |
| Average (mean) | $46,920 | $22.56 |
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 | $3,801.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,900.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,754.62 |
| Weekly | $877.31 |
| Hourly | $21.93 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $45,620 salary, see how much house you can afford in Tennessee at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in cities in Tennessee
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $55,270 | 190 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $45,340 | 150 |
| Knoxville, TN | $41,200 | 210 |
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 Tennessee
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Baker | $34,440 | $16.56 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $37,590 | $18.07 |
| Food Batchmaker | $42,610 | $20.49 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $39,960 | $19.21 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $42,690 | $20.52 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $35,790 | $17.21 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $39,130 | $18.81 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $44,630 | $21.46 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $40,130 | $19.29 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $65,310 | $31.40 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $45,760 | $22.00 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $48,040 | $23.10 |
| Machinist | $49,600 | $23.85 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,190 | $20.77 |
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 Tennessee?
The median salary for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Tennessee is $45,620 a year, or $21.93 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,100 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,560 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food cooking machine operators and tenders make in Tennessee?
The top 10% of food cooking machine operators and tenders in Tennessee earn at least $62,560 a year. The top 25% earn $55,270 or more.
What is the starting pay for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Tennessee?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,100 a year, and a quarter of food cooking machine operators and tenders earn $41,200 or less.
How many food cooking machine operators and tenders work in Tennessee?
About 1,820 food cooking machine operators and tenders are employed in Tennessee, not counting the self-employed.