Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in Wisconsin
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Wisconsin earn a median of $40,000 a year ($19.23 an hour), based on BLS data for 850 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,400 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $41,590. Wisconsin ranks 25th of 41 states for food cooking machine operators and tenders pay. There are 0.29 food cooking machine operators and tenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $44,400, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Wisconsin
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,000 | $16.83 |
| 25th percentile | $39,300 | $18.89 |
| Median | $40,000 | $19.23 |
| 75th percentile | $50,600 | $24.33 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,400 | $29.04 |
| Average (mean) | $44,400 | $21.35 |
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 | $3,333.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,666.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,538.46 |
| Weekly | $769.23 |
| Hourly | $19.23 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $40,000 salary, see how much house you can afford in Wisconsin at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in cities in Wisconsin
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $48,290 | 230 |
| Appleton, WI | $47,920 | 60 |
| Green Bay, WI | $40,200 | 40 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $39,830 | 30 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $39,410 | 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.
Related jobs in Wisconsin
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Batchmaker | $48,360 | $23.25 |
| Baker | $37,310 | $17.94 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $45,980 | $22.11 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $37,510 | $18.03 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $43,300 | $20.82 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $48,560 | $23.34 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $40,590 | $19.52 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $45,670 | $21.96 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $74,840 | $35.98 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $49,610 | $23.85 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $46,220 | $22.22 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $58,410 | $28.08 |
| Machinist | $59,110 | $28.42 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $45,470 | $21.86 |
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 Wisconsin?
The median salary for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Wisconsin is $40,000 a year, or $19.23 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,400 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food cooking machine operators and tenders make in Wisconsin?
The top 10% of food cooking machine operators and tenders in Wisconsin earn at least $60,400 a year. The top 25% earn $50,600 or more.
What is the starting pay for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Wisconsin?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,000 a year, and a quarter of food cooking machine operators and tenders earn $39,300 or less.
How many food cooking machine operators and tenders work in Wisconsin?
About 850 food cooking machine operators and tenders are employed in Wisconsin, not counting the self-employed.