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Occupation · SOC 51-3093

Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders

There are 31,250 jobs in the U.S. Median pay is $41,590 a year. The most jobs are in Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–IN.

ProductionTypical education: High school diploma or equivalent
31,250
Jobs in the U.S.
People employed, May 2025
$41,590
Median pay a year
Middle half: $36,190–$47,380
3,700
Annual openings
10-year change: −0.3%
High school diploma or equivalent
Typical education to enter

Metro areas with the highest employment

10 of 85 metro areas with BLS data for this occupation. LCA filings: Apr 2025–Mar 2026.

Metro areaEmploymentMedian payLCA filings
Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INMedian pay $44,280 · LCA filings 01,900$44,2800
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJMedian pay $41,590 · LCA filings 0880$41,5900
Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXMedian pay $35,240 · LCA filings 0850$35,2400
Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TXMedian pay $32,180 · LCA filings 0600$32,1800
San Antonio–New Braunfels, TXMedian pay $30,340 · LCA filings 0530$30,3400
Baltimore–Columbia–Towson, MDMedian pay $36,740 · LCA filings 0520$36,7400
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDMedian pay $38,890 · LCA filings 0510$38,8900
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVMedian pay $39,790 · LCA filings 0490$39,7900
Phoenix–Mesa–Chandler, AZMedian pay $49,220 · LCA filings 0460$49,2200
Cincinnati, OH–KY–INMedian pay $41,800 · LCA filings 0390$41,8000

Metro areas with the highest median pay

Median pay for this occupation in each metro area, May 2025.

Metro areaMedian payEmploymentLCA filings
Cedar Rapids, IAEmployment 40 · LCA filings 0$63,690400
Modesto, CAEmployment 140 · LCA filings 0$59,0101400
Kiryas Joel–Poughkeepsie–Newburgh, NYEmployment 80 · LCA filings 0$57,680800
Scranton––Wilkes–Barre, PAEmployment 110 · LCA filings 0$57,4901100
Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WAEmployment 190 · LCA filings 0$56,1901900

Prevailing wage levels (H-1B and PERM)

The minimum yearly wage by level. Level I is entry level and Level IV is fully competent; an H-1B employer must pay at least the level that fits the job.

Metro areaLevel ILevel IILevel IIILevel IV
Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INLevel II $40,310 · Level III $43,971 · Level IV $47,632$36,650$40,310$43,971$47,632
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJLevel II $41,267 · Level III $45,282 · Level IV $49,275$37,274$41,267$45,282$49,275
Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXLevel II $32,323 · Level III $35,922 · Level IV $39,499$28,746$32,323$35,922$39,499
Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TXLevel II $30,784 · Level III $34,070 · Level IV $37,378$27,477$30,784$34,070$37,378
San Antonio–New Braunfels, TXLevel II $30,243 · Level III $32,698 · Level IV $35,131$27,810$30,243$32,698$35,131
Baltimore–Columbia–Towson, MDLevel II $36,109 · Level III $37,107 · Level IV $38,106$35,110$36,109$37,107$38,106
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDLevel II $37,045 · Level III $40,206 · Level IV $43,389$33,862$37,045$40,206$43,389
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVLevel II $35,069 · Level III $37,378 · Level IV $39,666$32,781$35,069$37,378$39,666
Phoenix–Mesa–Chandler, AZLevel II $39,104 · Level III $43,659 · Level IV $48,235$34,528$39,104$43,659$48,235
Cincinnati, OH–KY–INLevel II $42,141 · Level III $46,114 · Level IV $50,066$38,189$42,141$46,114$50,066

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027.

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Related occupations · Production

Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsInspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersFirst-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersPackaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersWelders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersBakersLaundry and Dry-Cleaning WorkersProduction Workers, All Other

Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 · BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 · U.S. Department of Labor LCA disclosure data, Apr 2025–Mar 2026 · IPEDS 2024–25. Prevailing wages: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027. Methodology