Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders
Food processing equipment workers operate machinery that mixes, cooks, or processes ingredients for manufacturing food products.
Is food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders a good career?
It scores 9/100 and ranks #738 of 825 occupations on pay, growth, employment and openings. Here's what the federal data says, with no editorializing.
Advantages
- No college degree typically required to enter
Possible tradeoffs
- Pays below the U.S. median wage ($44,810 vs $61,390)
- Slower-than-average projected growth (+0.6%)
What food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders earn
Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025Pay is a range, not a number. Half of U.S. food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders earn between $37,540 and $50,680 a year.
Best-paying states
Best-paying metros
Strongest employment concentration
Live food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders jobs
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- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Outlook
- Employment is projected to grow faster than average through 2034.
Education
Employers may require or prefer that applicants to food processing equipment jobs have a high school diploma or equivalent.
Because these workers often adjust the quantity of ingredients that go into a mix, math and reading skills are helpful.
Training
Food processing equipment workers learn on the job. Training may last from a few weeks to a few months. During training, workers learn health and safety rules related to the type of food that they process, as well as how to operate specific equipment and detect malfunctions.
Experienced workers typically teach trainees how to properly use and care for equipment.
Important qualities
Detail oriented. Workers must be able to detect small changes in the quality or quantity of food products. They must also follow health and safety standards to avoid injury and prevent food contamination.
Physical stamina. Workers stand for long periods as they tend machines and monitor the production process.
Physical strength. Food processing equipment workers must be able to lift or move heavy boxes of ingredients, which may weigh up to 50 pounds.
Math skills. Workers may need math skills in order to accurately mix specific quantities of ingredients.
Related occupations
How much do food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders make?
The national median wage is $44,810 a year, with the middle half earning between $37,540 and $50,680 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Is food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders a good career?
On the Jobs.best index it scores 9 of 100 and ranks #738 of 825 occupations, weighing pay, growth, employment and openings. Employment is projected to change +0.6% through 2034.
What education do you need to become a food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tender?
The typical entry-level education is no formal educational credential.
Where do food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders earn the most?
Among states, North Dakota pays the highest median ($77,300). Local pay for every state and metro is below.