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Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders Salary in Kentucky
Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much do Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders make in Kentucky?
Last updated: 2025 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
$41,800
Median Annual Salary
▲
+5.1% vs 2024
$43,720
Mean Salary
$41,800
Median Salary
$20.10
Hourly Rate
300 people work as Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Kentucky
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary by percentile in Kentucky
BLS-reported salary distribution — from entry-level (10th percentile) to top earners (90th percentile).
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Kentucky earn a median salary of $41,800 per year ($3,483/month).
This is 1.4% above the national average of $41,230.
Kentucky ranks #21 out of 41 states for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders pay.
Approximately 300 people work in this occupation across Kentucky.
Salaries increased by 5.1% compared to 2024.
About This Job: Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders
Operate or tend cooking equipment, such as steam cooking vats, deep fry cookers, pressure cookers, kettles, and boilers, to prepare food products.
Top Skills
Operations Monitoring
3.5
Reading Comprehension
3.12
Monitoring
3.12
Operation and Control
3.12
Active Listening
3.0
Key Knowledge Areas
Production and Processing
4.35
Food Production
3.8
Administration and Management
3.31
Education and Training
3.13
Mechanical
3.11
Typical Education: High School Diploma or Equivalent
(85.9% of workers)
Salary Range: Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Kentucky
Salaries for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Kentucky range from $36,360 at the 10th percentile (entry level) to $52,990 at the 90th percentile (experienced). The middle 50% earn between $38,040 and $52,780.
Median $41,800
P10: $36,360P25: $38,040P75: $52,780P90: $52,990
10th
$36,360
25th
$38,040
Median
$41,800
75th
$52,780
90th
$52,990
Percentile
Annual Salary
Hourly Rate
Monthly
10th Percentile (Entry Level)
$36,360
$17.48
$3,030
25th Percentile
$38,040
$18.29
$3,170
Median (50th)
$41,800
$20.10
$3,483
75th Percentile
$52,780
$25.38
$4,398
90th Percentile (Experienced)
$52,990
$25.48
$4,415
Note: The mean (average) salary of $43,720 differs from the median because salary distributions are typically skewed by high earners.
📊 How Does This Compare?
#21
Kentucky ranks #21 of 41 states
$41,230
National avg. for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders
How much do Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders make in Kentucky?
The median annual salary for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Kentucky is $41,800 as of 2025. The average (mean) salary is $43,720.
What is the salary range for a Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Kentucky?
Salaries for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Kentucky range from $36,360 at the 10th percentile to $52,990 at the 90th percentile. The middle 50% earn between $38,040 and $52,780.
What is the starting salary for a Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Kentucky?
Entry-level Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders positions in Kentucky typically start around $36,360 (10th percentile). With some experience, salaries rise to $38,040 (25th percentile).
How many people work as Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Kentucky?
According to 2025 BLS data, approximately 300 people are employed as Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Kentucky.
What is the hourly rate for a Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Kentucky?
Based on a standard 2,080-hour work year, the median hourly rate for a Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Kentucky is approximately $20.10 per hour.
Salary data is sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, 2025 estimates. The OEWS survey covers approximately 1.1 million establishments nationwide.
Annual salaries are calculated based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. Actual compensation may vary based on experience, education, employer, and local market conditions. Figures do not include benefits, bonuses, or overtime pay.
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