Operate or tend food or tobacco roasting, baking, or drying equipment, including hearth ovens, kiln driers, roasters, char kilns, and vacuum drying equipment.
Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders
SOC: 51-3091 O*NET: 51-3091.00
Median Salary
$42,730
per year
Job Growth
📉 0.6%
Slower (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
2.4
projected jobs/year
Education Level
High school diploma or equivalent
Job Zone 2
Operate or tend food or tobacco roasting, baking, or drying equipment, including hearth ovens, kiln driers, roasters, char kilns, and vacuum drying equipment.
What does a Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders do?
How much can you earn?
Entry Level
$32,390
10th percentile
Early Career
$36,610
25th percentile
Median
$42,730
50th percentile
Experienced
$48,680
75th percentile
Top Earners
$60,070
90th percentile
National Salary Distribution
10th
$32,390
25th
$36,610
Middle 50%
MEDIAN
$42,730
Mean: $44,140
75th
$48,680
90th
$60,070
Middle 50% of earners
Median salary
Mean (average)
Key Insights
- •Salary range spans $27,680 from entry level to top earners
- •Middle 50% earn between $36,610 and $48,680
- •Salary spread is 28.2% around the median, showing moderate variation
- •Total national employment: 19,500 professionals
What's the job outlook?
Job Market Intelligence
Medium Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk
Current Employment
National Employment:20,700
Top Industries
Manufacturing76.3%
Food Manufacturing71.4%
Other Food Manufacturing24.6%
10-Year Outlook
Growth Rate:+0.6%
Annual Openings:2,400
Employment Projections
2024 (Current)20,700
Current
2034 (Projected)20,800
+0.6%
+100
Employment Change
+0.6%
Growth Rate
10
Year Projection
Growth Category: More slowly than average
Geographic Salary & Employment Data
Explore where Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders professionals work across the United States
Showing 15 of 43 locations
California
1,780 jobs$45,1400.78x
Texas
1,680 jobs$37,0700.96x
Minnesota
900 jobs$47,8502.44x
Michigan
850 jobs$43,7701.53x
Iowa
820 jobs$45,5704.17x
New Jersey
790 jobs$37,3301.48x
North Carolina
760 jobs$51,8101.23x
Tennessee
700 jobs$45,0701.68x
Missouri
670 jobs$45,1501.81x
Indiana
660 jobs$45,5501.63x
Wisconsin
610 jobs$49,1601.65x
Ohio
590 jobs$42,8100.85x
Virginia
490 jobs$43,6900.95x
Oklahoma
440 jobs$36,4902.05x
Georgia
440 jobs$35,5100.72x
Understanding the Data
Location Quotient (LQ):
- • LQ > 1.0: More jobs than national average
- • LQ = 1.0: Same as national average
- • LQ < 1.0: Fewer jobs than national average
Data Source:
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024
Key Growth Factors
Standard growth expectations for this occupation
What skills do you need?
Top 10 Most Important Skills
#1
Operations Monitoring
100%
#2
Monitoring
94%
#3
Active Listening
86%
#4
Quality Control Analysis
80%
#5
Critical Thinking
74%
#6
Reading Comprehension
66%
#7
Operation and Control
60%
#8
Speaking
54%
#9
Judgment and Decision Making
46%
#10
Coordination
40%
Skills Overview
Operations Monitoring
advanced5.0
100%
Monitoring
advanced4.7
94%
Active Listening
intermediate4.3
86%
Quality Control Analysis
intermediate4.0
80%
Critical Thinking
intermediate3.7
74%
Reading Comprehension
basic3.3
66%
Operation and Control
intermediate3.0
60%
Speaking
basic2.7
54%
Skills are rated on a scale of 0-5, with 5 being the most important. The complexity level indicates how advanced the skill typically needs to be.
Filter:
Sort by:
Operations Monitoring
advancedImportance100%
skills
5.0/5.0
Monitoring
advancedImportance94%
skills
4.7/5.0
Active Listening
intermediateImportance86%
skills
4.3/5.0
Quality Control Analysis
intermediateImportance80%
skills
4.0/5.0
Critical Thinking
intermediateImportance74%
abilities
3.7/5.0
Reading Comprehension
basicImportance66%
abilities
3.3/5.0
Operation and Control
intermediateImportance60%
abilities
3.0/5.0
Speaking
basicImportance54%
skills
2.7/5.0
Judgment and Decision Making
basicImportance46%
abilities
2.3/5.0
Coordination
basicImportance40%
skills
2.0/5.0
Highly Transferable Skills
These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:
Power Plant Operators82%
5 shared skills
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels82%
5 shared skills
Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders82%
5 shared skills
Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals82%
5 shared skills
Gas Plant Operators82%
5 shared skills
Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic82%
5 shared skills
Skills by Career Stage
Entry Level
Must Have:
- ✓Monitoring
- ✓Active Listening
Learn on the Job:
- →Speaking
- →Reading Comprehension
- →Operation and Control
Mid Career
Expected:
- ✓Operations Monitoring
- ✓Quality Control Analysis
- ✓Monitoring
- ✓Active Listening
Senior Level
Mastery Required:
- ★Quality Control Analysis
- ★Active Listening
- ★Critical Thinking
Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on developing the top 5 skills first - they have the highest impact on career success
- •Transferable skills open doors to related careers and provide flexibility
- •Balance technical skills with soft skills for well-rounded professional development
- •Entry-level positions prioritize foundational skills that can be built upon over time
What technology will you use?
Technology & Digital Skills
Essential technology proficiencies for Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders
Technology Intensity
Medium
Digital Literacy Requirements
This career requires intermediate digital literacy
1
Basic
2
Intermediate
3
Advanced
4
Expert
Key Digital Competencies:
Office productivity softwareIndustry-specific applicationsBasic data entry and managementDigital communication tools
🔥
Hot Technologies in Demand
These technologies are currently trending and highly sought after in this field
Microsoft Excel
🔥 Hot TechTechnology Stack
Technology Stack Overview
Key technologies used in this career
Microsoft Excel
📚 Technology Learning Resources
Recommended Certifications
- •Vendor-specific software certifications
- •Industry-recognized technology credentials
- •Professional development courses
Online Learning Platforms
- •LinkedIn Learning - Comprehensive technology courses
- •Coursera - University-level programs
- •Udemy - Practical skills training
💡 Technology Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on mastering hot technologies first - they're currently most in-demand
- •Build a portfolio demonstrating your proficiency with key tools and software
- •Stay current through continuous learning - technology evolves rapidly
- •Consider vendor certifications to validate your skills to employers
What's the work environment like?
🏢
Location
MOSTLY INDOOR
💪
Physical Demand
MODERATE
👥
Team Orientation
SOME TEAM
🤝
Customer Interaction
FREQUENT
💡Is This Work Environment Right for You?
Consider these factors when evaluating if you'll thrive in this work environment:
- •Are you comfortable working in mostly indoor environments?
- •Can you meet moderate physical demands?
- •Do you enjoy some team team environments?
- •Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?
What are the key tasks?
Tasks & Responsibilities
19
Core Tasks
8
Daily Tasks
20
Work Activities
0
Emerging Tasks
Filter:
Sort by:
General Responsibilities (16)Documentation & Record-Keeping (2)Operations & Execution (1)
1
Observe, feel, taste, or otherwise examine products during and after processing to ensure conformance to standards.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities100% perform100%
2
Observe temperature, humidity, pressure gauges, and product samples and adjust controls, such as thermostats and valves, to maintain prescribed operating conditions for specific stages.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping97% perform98%
3
Operate or tend equipment that roasts, bakes, dries, or cures food items such as cocoa and coffee beans, grains, nuts, and bakery products.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Operations & Execution94% perform96%
4
Set temperature and time controls, light ovens, burners, driers, or roasters, and start equipment, such as conveyors, cylinders, blowers, driers, or pumps.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities91% perform94%
5
Observe flow of materials and listen for machine malfunctions, such as jamming or spillage, and notify supervisors if corrective actions fail.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities88% perform92%
6
Record production data, such as weight and amount of product processed, type of product, and time and temperature of processing.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping85% perform90%
7
Weigh or measure products, using scale hoppers or scale conveyors.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities82% perform88%
8
Read work orders to determine quantities and types of products to be baked, dried, or roasted.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities79% perform86%
9
Take product samples during or after processing for laboratory analyses.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
General Responsibilities76% perform84%
10
Fill or remove product from trays, carts, hoppers, or equipment, using scoops, peels, or shovels, or by hand.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
General Responsibilities73% perform82%
💡 Key Takeaways
- •Daily tasks focus primarily on general responsibilities activities
- •37% of tasks are performed by most workers in this occupation
- •Career advancement brings increased leadership and strategic responsibilities
What career paths are available?
Career Pathways
0
Advancement Opportunities
0
Lateral Move Options
0%
Avg. Salary Increase
Advancement Opportunities
Typical career progression paths from Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders
💡 Career Planning Tips
- •Most successful advancement happens after 3-5 years of experience
- •Lateral moves can provide valuable cross-functional experience for future leadership roles
- •Focus on developing skills that are transferable across multiple career paths
- •Consider industry trends when planning long-term career moves
Is this career right for you?
Personality & Values Fit
Is This Career Right for You?
Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders professionals typically have a RCE Holland code and highly value support
RRealistic
CConventional
EEnterprising
Important Personality Traits
Work styles that contribute to success as a Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders
Dependability
Very ImportantDependability
Importance Level4.22
Independence
Very ImportantIndependence
Importance Level4.05
Attention to Detail
Very ImportantAttention to Detail
Importance Level4.02
Cooperation
ImportantCooperation
Importance Level3.89
Self-Control
ImportantSelf-Control
Importance Level3.74
Initiative
ImportantInitiative
Importance Level3.63
Complete Work Styles Profile
Dependability
4.2
Independence
4.0
Attention to Detail
4.0
Cooperation
3.9
Self-Control
3.7
Initiative
3.6
Stress Tolerance
3.6
Integrity
3.6
💡 Tips for Career Fit Success
- •While personality fit is important, skills can be developed with practice and training
- •Consider informational interviews to better understand the day-to-day personality requirements
- •Work environments vary by employer - research specific companies for cultural fit
- •Your interests and values may evolve - reassess periodically throughout your career
What education is required?
Education Level
High school diploma or equivalent
Typical duration: High school diploma or GED
Preparation Level
Job Zone 2
Some Preparation Needed
Experience Needed
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful
📚 Education Requirement
Required Level:High school diploma or equivalent
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work.
Training:
Training of a few months to a year
💼 Experience Requirement
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful
Common pathways to gain experience:
- • Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience
- • Vocational school programs (6 months to 2 years)
- • Industry certifications helpful
2
Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work.
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experienceVocational school programs (6 months to 2 years)Industry certifications helpful
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