51 Series · SOC 51-3091
Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $44,810
- Median / year
- $62,680
- Top 10% earn
- +0.6%
- Growth '23–'33
- 20,370
- US workers
Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders earn a median of $44,810 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $44,810, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $33,250 (10th percentile) to $62,680 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 20,370 US workers. North Dakota pays the most ($77,300), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders earn a median of $44,810, putting them among the lower-paid US occupations and higher than 19% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Production, it ranks #67 of 105 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 0.6% by 2033.
- $44,810
- Median annual wage
- Top 81%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #67 of 105
- in Production
- 1.9×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: North Dakota at $77,300. Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders (SOC 51-3091) pays a national median of $44,810 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $33,250 at the 10th percentile to $62,680 at the 90th, with a mean of $45,930 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 20,370 Americans work in this occupation across 44 reporting states and 95 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +0.6% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as slower than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 2,400 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is No formal educational credential and moderate-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of B for this role, with a fatality rate of 3.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 3.2 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. North Dakota pays the highest state median at $77,300, which is +73% above the national figure. The top metro is Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD at $78,750 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$44,810
per year
Median Hourly
$21.54/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$45,930
average
Employment
20,370
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$44,810 Bottom 19% higher than 19% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 51-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 23 51-series occupations with growth data, Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders sits on the slower-growing side at +0.6% growth and $44,810 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+0.6%
Slower than average
Annual Openings
2,400
per year (projected)
Typical Education
No formal educational credential
On-the-Job Training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
3.5/100K
Injury Rate
3.2/100
Danger Index
14.6/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Observe, feel, taste, or otherwise examine products during and after processing to ensure conformance to standards.
- ▸ Take product samples during or after processing for laboratory analyses.
- ▸ Set temperature and time controls, light ovens, burners, driers, or roasters, and start equipment, such as conveyors, cylinders, blowers, driers, or pumps.
- ▸ Observe temperature, humidity, pressure gauges, and product samples and adjust controls, such as thermostats and valves, to maintain prescribed operating conditions for specific stages.
- ▸ Observe flow of materials and listen for machine malfunctions, such as jamming or spillage, and notify supervisors if corrective actions fail.
- ▸ Test products for moisture content, using moisture meters.
- ▸ Record production data, such as weight and amount of product processed, type of product, and time and temperature of processing.
- ▸ Weigh or measure products, using scale hoppers or scale conveyors.
- ▸ Clear or dislodge blockages in bins, screens, or other equipment, using poles, brushes, or mallets.
- ▸ Operate or tend equipment that roasts, bakes, dries, or cures food items such as cocoa and coffee beans, grains, nuts, and bakery products.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$33,250
25th Percentile
$37,540
Median
$44,810
75th Percentile
$50,680
90th Percentile
$62,680
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 44 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | $77,300 | +73% above national |
| 2 | Maryland | $60,170 | +34% above national |
| 3 | Colorado | $59,590 | +33% above national |
| 4 | Virginia | $59,260 | +32% above national |
| 5 | Alaska | $55,280 | +23% above national |
| 6 | Nevada | $54,950 | +23% above national |
| 7 | Washington | $50,590 | +13% above national |
| 8 | Minnesota | $50,340 | +12% above national |
| 9 | Maine | $50,220 | +12% above national |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $49,660 | +11% above national |
| 11 | New York | $49,020 | +9% above national |
| 12 | Wisconsin | $48,560 | +8% above national |
| 13 | Kentucky | $48,540 | +8% above national |
| 14 | Idaho | $48,250 | +8% above national |
| 15 | Michigan | $48,240 | +8% above national |
| 16 | Iowa | $47,960 | +7% above national |
| 17 | Utah | $47,940 | +7% above national |
| 18 | Oregon | $46,250 | +3% above national |
| 19 | California | $45,600 | +2% above national |
| 20 | Massachusetts | $45,400 | +1% above national |
| 21 | Hawaii | $45,390 | +1% above national |
| 22 | Arkansas | $45,080 | +1% above national |
| 23 | South Dakota | $45,040 | +1% above national |
| 24 | Kansas | $44,550 | 1% below national |
| 25 | Ohio | $44,190 | 1% below national |
| 26 | Missouri | $43,460 | 3% below national |
| 27 | Nebraska | $43,410 | 3% below national |
| 28 | Indiana | $43,370 | 3% below national |
| 29 | Arizona | $43,010 | 4% below national |
| 30 | Oklahoma | $42,390 | 5% below national |
| 31 | Connecticut | $41,720 | 7% below national |
| 32 | Vermont | $40,990 | 9% below national |
| 33 | South Carolina | $40,000 | 11% below national |
| 34 | Tennessee | $39,130 | 13% below national |
| 35 | Louisiana | $38,440 | 14% below national |
| 36 | Illinois | $38,230 | 15% below national |
| 37 | Georgia | $37,390 | 17% below national |
| 38 | New Jersey | $37,140 | 17% below national |
| 39 | Texas | $37,140 | 17% below national |
| 40 | Mississippi | $37,030 | 17% below national |
| 41 | North Carolina | $35,980 | 20% below national |
| 42 | New Mexico | $35,480 | 21% below national |
| 43 | Montana | $35,360 | 21% below national |
| 44 | Florida | $35,340 | 21% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 95 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $78,750 | +76% above national |
| 2 | Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $66,110 | +48% above national |
| 3 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $62,890 | +40% above national |
| 4 | Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $62,080 | +39% above national |
| 5 | Modesto, CA | $61,130 | +36% above national |
| 6 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $60,230 | +34% above national |
| 7 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $60,170 | +34% above national |
| 8 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $56,270 | +26% above national |
| 9 | Appleton, WI | $55,400 | +24% above national |
| 10 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $54,950 | +23% above national |
| 11 | Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $52,850 | +18% above national |
| 12 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $52,650 | +17% above national |
| 13 | Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $51,420 | +15% above national |
| 14 | Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $51,160 | +14% above national |
| 15 | Yakima, WA | $50,840 | +13% above national |
| 16 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $50,800 | +13% above national |
| 17 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $50,740 | +13% above national |
| 18 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $50,680 | +13% above national |
| 19 | Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $50,220 | +12% above national |
| 20 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $49,970 | +12% above national |
| 21 | Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $49,930 | +11% above national |
| 22 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $49,920 | +11% above national |
| 23 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $49,860 | +11% above national |
| 24 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $49,780 | +11% above national |
| 25 | Pittsburgh, PA | $49,570 | +11% above national |
| 26 | Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $49,350 | +10% above national |
| 27 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $49,090 | +10% above national |
| 28 | South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $48,950 | +9% above national |
| 29 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $48,570 | +8% above national |
| 30 | St. Cloud, MN | $48,370 | +8% above national |
| 31 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $48,350 | +8% above national |
| 32 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $48,330 | +8% above national |
| 33 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $48,000 | +7% above national |
| 34 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $47,710 | +6% above national |
| 35 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $47,600 | +6% above national |
| 36 | St. Joseph, MO-KS | $47,440 | +6% above national |
| 37 | Twin Falls, ID | $47,210 | +5% above national |
| 38 | Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $47,180 | +5% above national |
| 39 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $47,110 | +5% above national |
| 40 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $47,090 | +5% above national |
| 41 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $47,010 | +5% above national |
| 42 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $46,860 | +5% above national |
| 43 | Salinas, CA | $46,650 | +4% above national |
| 44 | Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $46,470 | +4% above national |
| 45 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $46,320 | +3% above national |
| 46 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $46,270 | +3% above national |
| 47 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $46,250 | +3% above national |
| 48 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $46,180 | +3% above national |
| 49 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $46,120 | +3% above national |
| 50 | Syracuse, NY | $46,080 | +3% above national |
| 51 | Rochester, NY | $45,970 | +3% above national |
| 52 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $45,450 | +1% above national |
| 53 | East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $45,430 | +1% above national |
| 54 | Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $45,270 | +1% above national |
| 55 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $45,110 | +1% above national |
| 56 | Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $45,100 | +1% above national |
| 57 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $44,550 | 1% below national |
| 58 | Vallejo, CA | $44,420 | 1% below national |
| 59 | Visalia, CA | $44,010 | 2% below national |
| 60 | Springfield, MO | $43,990 | 2% below national |
| 61 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $43,940 | 2% below national |
| 62 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $43,830 | 2% below national |
| 63 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $43,610 | 3% below national |
| 64 | South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $43,540 | 3% below national |
| 65 | Omaha, NE-IA | $43,410 | 3% below national |
| 66 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $42,240 | 6% below national |
| 67 | Merced, CA | $42,130 | 6% below national |
| 68 | Eastern and Southern Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $41,980 | 6% below national |
| 69 | El Paso, TX | $41,390 | 8% below national |
| 70 | Rocky Mount, NC | $40,690 | 9% below national |
| 71 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $40,580 | 9% below national |
| 72 | Salem, OR | $39,590 | 12% below national |
| 73 | Fresno, CA | $39,420 | 12% below national |
| 74 | Cleveland, OH | $38,750 | 14% below national |
| 75 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $38,440 | 14% below national |
| 76 | Baton Rouge, LA | $38,440 | 14% below national |
| 77 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $38,240 | 15% below national |
| 78 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $38,230 | 15% below national |
| 79 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $38,060 | 15% below national |
| 80 | North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $37,960 | 15% below national |
| 81 | Knoxville, TN | $37,880 | 15% below national |
| 82 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $37,820 | 16% below national |
| 83 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $37,670 | 16% below national |
| 84 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $37,590 | 16% below national |
| 85 | East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $37,590 | 16% below national |
| 86 | Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | $37,500 | 16% below national |
| 87 | Oklahoma City, OK | $36,800 | 18% below national |
| 88 | Columbia, SC | $36,420 | 19% below national |
| 89 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $35,860 | 20% below national |
| 90 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $35,840 | 20% below national |
| 91 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $35,290 | 21% below national |
| 92 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $34,620 | 23% below national |
| 93 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $34,170 | 24% below national |
| 94 | Las Cruces, NM | $34,140 | 24% below national |
| 95 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $30,360 | 32% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 51 (production) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders make? ▼
What state pays Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders? ▼
How dangerous is being a Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders? ▼
Is Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders a good career? ▼
How does Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $50,680/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: North Dakota leads at $77,300/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.