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Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders Salary in South Dakota
Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much do Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders make in South Dakota?
Last updated: 2025 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
$39,270
Median Annual Salary
▲
+3.2% vs 2024
$39,480
Mean Salary
$39,270
Median Salary
$18.88
Hourly Rate
120 people work as Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in South Dakota
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary by percentile in South Dakota
BLS-reported salary distribution — from entry-level (10th percentile) to top earners (90th percentile).
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in South Dakota earn a median salary of $39,270 per year ($3,272/month).
This is 4.8% below the national average of $41,230.
South Dakota ranks #26 out of 41 states for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders pay.
Approximately 120 people work in this occupation across South Dakota.
Salaries increased by 3.2% 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 South Dakota
Salaries for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in South Dakota range from $31,280 at the 10th percentile (entry level) to $48,890 at the 90th percentile (experienced). The middle 50% earn between $33,050 and $42,860.
Median $39,270
P10: $31,280P25: $33,050P75: $42,860P90: $48,890
10th
$31,280
25th
$33,050
Median
$39,270
75th
$42,860
90th
$48,890
Percentile
Annual Salary
Hourly Rate
Monthly
10th Percentile (Entry Level)
$31,280
$15.04
$2,606
25th Percentile
$33,050
$15.89
$2,754
Median (50th)
$39,270
$18.88
$3,272
75th Percentile
$42,860
$20.61
$3,571
90th Percentile (Experienced)
$48,890
$23.50
$4,074
Note: The mean (average) salary of $39,480 differs from the median because salary distributions are typically skewed by high earners.
📊 How Does This Compare?
#26
South Dakota ranks #26 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 South Dakota?
The median annual salary for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in South Dakota is $39,270 as of 2025. The average (mean) salary is $39,480.
What is the salary range for a Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in South Dakota?
Salaries for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in South Dakota range from $31,280 at the 10th percentile to $48,890 at the 90th percentile. The middle 50% earn between $33,050 and $42,860.
What is the starting salary for a Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in South Dakota?
Entry-level Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders positions in South Dakota typically start around $31,280 (10th percentile). With some experience, salaries rise to $33,050 (25th percentile).
How many people work as Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in South Dakota?
According to 2025 BLS data, approximately 120 people are employed as Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in South Dakota.
What is the hourly rate for a Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in South Dakota?
Based on a standard 2,080-hour work year, the median hourly rate for a Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in South Dakota is approximately $18.88 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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