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Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders Salary in Tennessee
Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much do Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders make in Tennessee?
Last updated: 2025 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
$45,620
Median Annual Salary
▲
+1.3% vs 2024
$46,920
Mean Salary
$45,620
Median Salary
$21.93
Hourly Rate
1,820 people work as Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Tennessee
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary by percentile in Tennessee
BLS-reported salary distribution — from entry-level (10th percentile) to top earners (90th percentile).
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Tennessee earn a median salary of $45,620 per year ($3,801/month).
This is 10.6% above the national average of $41,230.
Tennessee ranks #10 out of 41 states for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders pay.
Approximately 1,820 people work in this occupation across Tennessee.
Salaries increased by 1.3% 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 Tennessee
Salaries for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Tennessee range from $35,100 at the 10th percentile (entry level) to $62,560 at the 90th percentile (experienced). The middle 50% earn between $41,200 and $55,270.
Median $45,620
P10: $35,100P25: $41,200P75: $55,270P90: $62,560
10th
$35,100
25th
$41,200
Median
$45,620
75th
$55,270
90th
$62,560
Percentile
Annual Salary
Hourly Rate
Monthly
10th Percentile (Entry Level)
$35,100
$16.88
$2,925
25th Percentile
$41,200
$19.81
$3,433
Median (50th)
$45,620
$21.93
$3,801
75th Percentile
$55,270
$26.57
$4,605
90th Percentile (Experienced)
$62,560
$30.08
$5,213
Note: The mean (average) salary of $46,920 differs from the median because salary distributions are typically skewed by high earners.
📊 How Does This Compare?
#10
Tennessee ranks #10 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 Tennessee?
The median annual salary for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Tennessee is $45,620 as of 2025. The average (mean) salary is $46,920.
What is the salary range for a Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Tennessee?
Salaries for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Tennessee range from $35,100 at the 10th percentile to $62,560 at the 90th percentile. The middle 50% earn between $41,200 and $55,270.
What is the starting salary for a Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Tennessee?
Entry-level Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders positions in Tennessee typically start around $35,100 (10th percentile). With some experience, salaries rise to $41,200 (25th percentile).
How many people work as Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Tennessee?
According to 2025 BLS data, approximately 1,820 people are employed as Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Tennessee.
What is the hourly rate for a Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Tennessee?
Based on a standard 2,080-hour work year, the median hourly rate for a Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Tennessee is approximately $21.93 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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