Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in Washington
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Washington earn a median of $51,100 a year ($24.57 an hour), based on BLS data for 310 workers.
Pay ranges from $41,060 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,660 for the top 10%. That is 23% higher than the national median of $41,590. Washington ranks 1st of 41 states for food cooking machine operators and tenders pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.09 food cooking machine operators and tenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.43). The average (mean) salary is $51,220, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Washington
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,060 | $19.74 |
| 25th percentile | $47,580 | $22.88 |
| Median | $51,100 | $24.57 |
| 75th percentile | $56,850 | $27.33 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,660 | $29.17 |
| Average (mean) | $51,220 | $24.62 |
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 | $4,258.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,129.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,965.38 |
| Weekly | $982.69 |
| Hourly | $24.57 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $51,100 salary, see how much house you can afford in Washington at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in cities in Washington
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $56,190 | 190 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $45,260 | 300 |
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 Washington
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Baker | $46,140 | $22.18 |
| Food Batchmaker | $42,710 | $20.53 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $43,010 | $20.68 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $51,670 | $24.84 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $43,980 | $21.15 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $45,100 | $21.68 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $50,590 | $24.32 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $48,260 | $23.20 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $79,310 | $38.13 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $64,420 | $30.97 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $41,700 | $20.05 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $63,020 | $30.30 |
| Machinist | $66,160 | $31.81 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $52,480 | $25.23 |
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 Washington?
The median salary for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Washington is $51,100 a year, or $24.57 an hour. Pay ranges from $41,060 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,660 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food cooking machine operators and tenders make in Washington?
The top 10% of food cooking machine operators and tenders in Washington earn at least $60,660 a year. The top 25% earn $56,850 or more.
What is the starting pay for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Washington?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $41,060 a year, and a quarter of food cooking machine operators and tenders earn $47,580 or less.
How many food cooking machine operators and tenders work in Washington?
About 310 food cooking machine operators and tenders are employed in Washington, not counting the self-employed.