Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in Texas
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Texas earn a median of $33,980 a year ($16.34 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,180 workers.
Pay ranges from $25,480 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,460 for the top 10%. That is 18% lower than the national median of $41,590. Texas ranks 38th of 41 states for food cooking machine operators and tenders pay. There are 0.23 food cooking machine operators and tenders per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $34,570, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Texas
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $25,480 | $12.25 |
| 25th percentile | $29,580 | $14.22 |
| Median | $33,980 | $16.34 |
| 75th percentile | $37,100 | $17.84 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,460 | $21.85 |
| Average (mean) | $34,570 | $16.62 |
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 | $2,831.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,415.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,306.92 |
| Weekly | $653.46 |
| Hourly | $16.34 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $33,980 salary, see how much house you can afford in Texas at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in cities in Texas
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| El Paso, TX | $36,120 | 90 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $35,350 | 330 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $35,240 | 850 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $32,180 | 600 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $30,340 | 530 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $26,950 | 30 |
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 Texas
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Baker | $33,790 | $16.25 |
| Food Batchmaker | $37,500 | $18.03 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $37,400 | $17.98 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $35,890 | $17.25 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $40,150 | $19.30 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $43,160 | $20.75 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $37,140 | $17.86 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $38,320 | $18.42 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $70,140 | $33.72 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $46,210 | $22.22 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $53,340 | $25.64 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $36,610 | $17.60 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $38,950 | $18.73 |
| Machinist | $59,180 | $28.45 |
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 Texas?
The median salary for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Texas is $33,980 a year, or $16.34 an hour. Pay ranges from $25,480 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,460 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food cooking machine operators and tenders make in Texas?
The top 10% of food cooking machine operators and tenders in Texas earn at least $45,460 a year. The top 25% earn $37,100 or more.
What is the starting pay for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Texas?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $25,480 a year, and a quarter of food cooking machine operators and tenders earn $29,580 or less.
How many food cooking machine operators and tenders work in Texas?
About 3,180 food cooking machine operators and tenders are employed in Texas, not counting the self-employed.