Operate or tend cooking equipment, such as steam cooking vats, deep fry cookers, pressure cookers, kettles, and boilers, to prepare food products.
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders
SOC: 51-3093 O*NET: 51-3093.00
Median Salary
$41,590
per year
Job Growth
📉 -0.3%
Slower (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
3.7
projected jobs/year
Education Level
High school diploma or equivalent
Job Zone 2
Operate or tend cooking equipment, such as steam cooking vats, deep fry cookers, pressure cookers, kettles, and boilers, to prepare food products.
What does a Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders do?
How much can you earn?
Entry Level
$31,680
10th percentile
Early Career
$36,190
25th percentile
Median
$41,590
50th percentile
Experienced
$47,380
75th percentile
Top Earners
$54,410
90th percentile
National Salary Distribution
10th
$31,680
25th
$36,190
Middle 50%
MEDIAN
$41,590
Mean: $42,570
75th
$47,380
90th
$54,410
Middle 50% of earners
Median salary
Mean (average)
Key Insights
- •Salary range spans $22,730 from entry level to top earners
- •Middle 50% earn between $36,190 and $47,380
- •Salary spread is 26.9% around the median, showing moderate variation
- •Total national employment: 31,250 professionals
What's the job outlook?
Job Market Intelligence
Low Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk
Current Employment
National Employment:31,200
Top Industries
Manufacturing80.4%
Food Manufacturing80.1%
Other Food Manufacturing22.2%
10-Year Outlook
Growth Rate:-0.3%
Annual Openings:3,700
Employment Projections
2025 (Current)31,200
Current
2035 (Projected)31,200
-0.3%
-100
Employment Change
-0.3%
Growth Rate
10
Year Projection
Growth Category: More slowly than average
Geographic Salary & Employment Data
Explore where Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders professionals work across the United States
Showing 15 of 41 locations
Texas
3,180 jobs$33,9801.12x
Illinois
2,460 jobs$42,6702.01x
California
2,010 jobs$44,7400.55x
Tennessee
1,820 jobs$45,6202.76x
Pennsylvania
1,580 jobs$42,7101.30x
Minnesota
1,410 jobs$47,2502.38x
New York
1,300 jobs$45,6800.67x
Oklahoma
1,140 jobs$36,0303.33x
Ohio
980 jobs$41,1600.88x
Florida
970 jobs$36,4500.49x
Iowa
850 jobs$47,9002.72x
Wisconsin
850 jobs$40,0001.44x
Idaho
790 jobs$45,1204.60x
North Carolina
770 jobs$39,0700.78x
Kansas
750 jobs$45,8502.58x
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 2025
Key Growth Factors
- •Employment decline projected
What skills do you need?
Top 10 Most Important Skills
#1
Operations Monitoring
100%
#2
Production and Processing
100%
#3
Problem Sensitivity
100%
#4
Oral Comprehension
92%
#5
Monitoring
88%
#6
Food Production
86%
#7
Written Comprehension
82%
#8
Reading Comprehension
76%
#9
Near Vision
74%
#10
Administration and Management
70%
Skills Overview
Operations Monitoring
advanced5.0
100%
Production and Processing
advanced5.0
100%
Problem Sensitivity
advanced5.0
100%
Oral Comprehension
advanced4.6
92%
Monitoring
intermediate4.4
88%
Food Production
intermediate4.3
86%
Written Comprehension
intermediate4.1
82%
Reading Comprehension
basic3.8
76%
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
Production and Processing
advancedImportance100%
knowledge
5.0/5.0
Problem Sensitivity
advancedImportance100%
abilities
5.0/5.0
Oral Comprehension
advancedImportance92%
abilities
4.6/5.0
Monitoring
intermediateImportance88%
skills
4.4/5.0
Food Production
intermediateImportance86%
knowledge
4.3/5.0
Written Comprehension
intermediateImportance82%
abilities
4.1/5.0
Reading Comprehension
basicImportance76%
abilities
3.8/5.0
Near Vision
intermediateImportance74%
abilities
3.7/5.0
Administration and Management
intermediateImportance70%
knowledge
3.5/5.0
Control Precision
intermediateImportance66%
abilities
3.3/5.0
Operation and Control
intermediateImportance64%
abilities
3.2/5.0
Highly Transferable Skills
These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:
Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders100%
5 shared skills
Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic83%
5 shared skills
Tire Builders83%
5 shared skills
Etchers and Engravers75%
5 shared skills
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders75%
5 shared skills
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders75%
5 shared skills
Skills by Career Stage
Entry Level
Must Have:
- ✓Monitoring
- ✓Production and Processing
- ✓Food Production
Learn on the Job:
- →Education and Training
- →Operation and Control
- →Critical Thinking
Mid Career
Expected:
- ✓Operations Monitoring
- ✓Monitoring
- ✓Production and Processing
- ✓Food Production
- ✓Problem Sensitivity
Senior Level
Mastery Required:
- ★Production and Processing
- ★Food Production
- ★Problem Sensitivity
- ★Oral Comprehension
- ★Written Comprehension
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 Cooking 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
Technology Stack
Technology stack information is being compiled for this career.
📚 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
HIGH
👥
Team Orientation
CONSTANT TEAM
🤝
Customer Interaction
CONSTANT
💡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 high physical demands?
- •Do you enjoy constant team team environments?
- •Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?
What are the key tasks?
Tasks & Responsibilities
17
Core Tasks
8
Daily Tasks
20
Work Activities
0
Emerging Tasks
Filter:
Sort by:
Documentation & Record-Keeping (4)General Responsibilities (12)Operations & Execution (1)
1
Record production and test data, such as processing steps, temperature and steam readings, cooking time, batches processed, and test results.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping100% perform100%
2
Listen for malfunction alarms, and shut down equipment and notify supervisors when necessary.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities97% perform98%
3
Collect and examine product samples during production to test them for quality, color, content, consistency, viscosity, acidity, or specific gravity.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities94% perform96%
4
Observe gauges, dials, and product characteristics, and adjust controls to maintain appropriate temperature, pressure, and flow of ingredients.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping91% perform94%
5
Read work orders, recipes, or formulas to determine cooking times and temperatures, and ingredient specifications.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities88% perform92%
6
Clean, wash, and sterilize equipment and cooking area, using water hoses, cleaning or sterilizing solutions, or rinses.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities85% perform90%
7
Set temperature, pressure, and time controls, and start conveyers, machines, or pumps.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities82% perform88%
8
Tend or operate and control equipment, such as kettles, cookers, vats and tanks, and boilers, to cook ingredients or prepare products for further processing.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping79% perform86%
9
Measure or weigh ingredients, using scales or measuring containers.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
General Responsibilities76% perform84%
10
Admit required amounts of water, steam, cooking oils, or compressed air into equipment, such as by opening water valves to cool mixtures to the desired consistency.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
General Responsibilities73% perform82%
💡 Key Takeaways
- •Daily tasks focus primarily on documentation & record-keeping activities
- •41% 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 Cooking 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 Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders professionals typically have a RCI Holland code and highly value support
RRealistic
CConventional
IInvestigative
Important Personality Traits
Work styles that contribute to success as a Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders
Dependability
Very ImportantDependability
Importance Level4.49
Self-Control
ImportantSelf-Control
Importance Level3.96
Integrity
ImportantIntegrity
Importance Level3.83
Attention to Detail
ImportantAttention to Detail
Importance Level3.78
Stress Tolerance
ImportantStress Tolerance
Importance Level3.76
Cooperation
ImportantCooperation
Importance Level3.71
Complete Work Styles Profile
Dependability
4.5
Self-Control
4.0
Integrity
3.8
Attention to Detail
3.8
Stress Tolerance
3.8
Cooperation
3.7
Initiative
3.7
Leadership
3.6
Adaptability/Flexibility
3.5
Concern for Others
3.5
💡 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?
Explore educational programs that can help you become a Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders.
Browse Training Programs →Trade Colleges That Train for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders
Top trade colleges by completions in fields that prepare students for this career.
Ivy Tech Community College
Indianapolis, IN
2.4k program completions/year
South Florida Institute of Technology
Miami, FL
1.4k program completions/year
Texas State Technical College
Waco, TX
1.4k program completions/year
Tulsa Welding School-Houston
Houston, TX
1.1k program completions/year
River Parishes Community College
Gonzales, LA
1.1k program completions/year
Tulsa Welding School-Jacksonville
Jacksonville, FL
1.1k program completions/year
Refrigeration School Inc
Phoenix, AZ
863 program completions/year
Bluegrass Community and Technical College
Lexington, KY
789 program completions/year
Maysville Community and Technical College
Maysville, KY
776 program completions/year
Des Moines Area Community College
Ankeny, IA
685 program completions/year
Arclabs
Piedmont, SC
669 program completions/year
John C Calhoun State Community College
Tanner, AL
649 program completions/year