Food Batchmakers

SOC: 51-3092 O*NET: 51-3092.00
Median Salary
$40,790
per year
Job Growth
📈 6.9%
Faster (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
24.2
projected jobs/year
Education Level
High school diploma or equivalent
Job Zone 2

Set up and operate equipment that mixes or blends ingredients used in the manufacturing of food products. Includes candy makers and cheese makers.

What does a Food Batchmakers do?

Set up and operate equipment that mixes or blends ingredients used in the manufacturing of food products. Includes candy makers and cheese makers.

How much can you earn?

Entry Level
$30,850
10th percentile
Early Career
$35,340
25th percentile
Median
$40,790
50th percentile
Experienced
$49,010
75th percentile
Top Earners
$57,800
90th percentile

National Salary Distribution

10th
$30,850
25th
$35,340
Middle 50%
MEDIAN
$40,790
Mean: $42,830
75th
$49,010
90th
$57,800
Middle 50% of earners
Median salary
Mean (average)

Key Insights

  • Salary range spans $26,950 from entry level to top earners
  • Middle 50% earn between $35,340 and $49,010
  • Salary spread is 33.5% around the median, showing moderate variation
  • Total national employment: 171,660 professionals

What's the job outlook?

Job Market Intelligence

Medium Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk

Current Employment

National Employment:173,500

Top Industries

Manufacturing84.5%
Food Manufacturing82.7%
Other Food Manufacturing17.8%

10-Year Outlook

Growth Rate:+6.9%
Annual Openings:24,200

Employment Projections

2024 (Current)173,500
Current
2034 (Projected)185,400
+6.9%
+11,900
Employment Change
+6.9%
Growth Rate
10
Year Projection

Growth Category: As fast as average

Geographic Salary & Employment Data

Explore where Food Batchmakers professionals work across the United States

Showing 15 of 50 locations
Wisconsin
18,610 jobs$46,7605.72x
Texas
13,870 jobs$33,8800.90x
Illinois
13,400 jobs$48,4401.99x
California
11,530 jobs$40,1100.57x
Ohio
8,390 jobs$39,7601.36x
New York
8,140 jobs$37,2800.77x
Pennsylvania
7,460 jobs$40,3301.11x
Minnesota
5,930 jobs$39,1801.82x
Massachusetts
5,660 jobs$36,4601.40x
Indiana
5,100 jobs$46,0401.44x
Iowa
4,990 jobs$48,7902.87x
Michigan
4,950 jobs$39,2901.01x
Kentucky
4,660 jobs$46,9002.10x
Washington
4,600 jobs$45,0401.17x
New Jersey
4,480 jobs$36,4700.95x

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

  • Average growth expected

What skills do you need?

Top 10 Most Important Skills

#1
Operations Monitoring
100%
#2
Reading Comprehension
90%
#3
Critical Thinking
80%
#4
Active Listening
70%
#5
Speaking
60%
#6
Coordination
50%
#7
Operation and Control
40%

Skills Overview

Operations Monitoring
advanced5.0
100%
Reading Comprehension
advanced4.5
90%
Critical Thinking
intermediate4.0
80%
Active Listening
intermediate3.5
70%
Speaking
intermediate3.0
60%
Coordination
basic2.5
50%
Operation and Control
basic2.0
40%

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

advanced
Importance100%
skills
5.0/5.0

Reading Comprehension

advanced
Importance90%
abilities
4.5/5.0

Critical Thinking

intermediate
Importance80%
abilities
4.0/5.0

Active Listening

intermediate
Importance70%
skills
3.5/5.0

Speaking

intermediate
Importance60%
skills
3.0/5.0

Coordination

basic
Importance50%
skills
2.5/5.0

Operation and Control

basic
Importance40%
abilities
2.0/5.0

Highly Transferable Skills

These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:

Pipelayers75%
5 shared skills
Construction Laborers71%
5 shared skills
Motion Picture Projectionists71%
5 shared skills
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels70%
5 shared skills
Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals70%
5 shared skills
Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders70%
5 shared skills

Skills by Career Stage

Entry Level

Learn on the Job:
  • Speaking
  • Coordination

Mid Career

Expected:
  • Operations Monitoring
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Critical Thinking

Senior Level

Mastery Required:
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Critical Thinking
  • Active Listening

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 Batchmakers

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 Office software

🔥 Hot Tech

Technology Stack

Technology Stack Overview

Key technologies used in this career

Microsoft Office software

📚 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

21
Core Tasks
8
Daily Tasks
20
Work Activities
0
Emerging Tasks
Filter:
Sort by:
Documentation & Record-Keeping (2)General Responsibilities (16)Operations & Execution (1)Management & Supervision (1)Analysis & Evaluation (1)
1

Record production and test data for each food product batch, such as the ingredients used, temperature, test results, and time cycle.

🔴
Daily
Importance:
100%
Documentation & Record-Keeping100% perform
2

Observe gauges and thermometers to determine if the mixing chamber temperature is within specified limits, and turn valves to control the temperature.

🔴
Daily
Importance:
98%
General Responsibilities97% perform
3

Clean and sterilize vats and factory processing areas.

🔴
Daily
Importance:
96%
General Responsibilities94% perform
4

Press switches and turn knobs to start, adjust, and regulate equipment, such as beaters, extruders, discharge pipes, and salt pumps.

🔴
Daily
Importance:
94%
General Responsibilities91% perform
5

Observe and listen to equipment to detect possible malfunctions, such as leaks or plugging, and report malfunctions or undesirable tastes to supervisors.

🔴
Daily
Importance:
92%
General Responsibilities88% perform
6

Set up, operate, and tend equipment that cooks, mixes, blends, or processes ingredients in the manufacturing of food products, according to formulas or recipes.

🔴
Daily
Importance:
90%
Operations & Execution85% perform
7

Mix or blend ingredients, according to recipes, using a paddle or an agitator, or by controlling vats that heat and mix ingredients.

🔴
Daily
Importance:
88%
General Responsibilities82% perform
8

Follow recipes to produce food products of specified flavor, texture, clarity, bouquet, or color.

🔴
Daily
Importance:
86%
General Responsibilities79% perform
9

Select and measure or weigh ingredients, using English or metric measures and balance scales.

🟡
Weekly
Importance:
84%
General Responsibilities76% perform
10

Turn valve controls to start equipment and to adjust operation to maintain product quality.

🟡
Weekly
Importance:
82%
Documentation & Record-Keeping73% perform

💡 Key Takeaways

  • Daily tasks focus primarily on documentation & record-keeping activities
  • 33% 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 Batchmakers

💡 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 Batchmakers 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 Batchmakers

Attention to Detail

Critical

Attention to Detail

Importance Level4.55

Dependability

Very Important

Dependability

Importance Level4.44

Achievement/Effort

Very Important

Achievement/Effort

Importance Level4.26

Self-Control

Very Important

Self-Control

Importance Level4.21

Concern for Others

Very Important

Concern for Others

Importance Level4.01

Cooperation

Important

Cooperation

Importance Level3.99

Complete Work Styles Profile

Attention to Detail
4.5
Dependability
4.4
Achievement/Effort
4.3
Self-Control
4.2
Concern for Others
4.0
Cooperation
4.0
Stress Tolerance
4.0
Integrity
3.9
Initiative
3.9
Adaptability/Flexibility
3.9

💡 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

Ready to Start Your Journey?

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