Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders
Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders (SOC 51-3091) earn a median $44,810 a year ($21.54 an hour) in the United States, with 20,370 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is North Dakota.
What food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders do
Operators of food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machines tend the large ovens, roasters, kilns, and dryers that heat-treat food and tobacco products. Examples include hearth ovens, roasters for items such as coffee beans, nuts, and grain, and vacuum dryers. The operator sets temperature and timing controls, lights burners or starts conveyors and blowers, and loads product. During the run, they watch temperature, humidity, and pressure gauges and adjust thermostats and valves, and they look at, feel, or taste product samples to be sure that color, texture, and doneness are right. They listen and watch for jams or spills and report problems that they cannot fix. Records of batch weight, product type, time, and temperature are kept. Products are weighed or measured, and the operator signals coworkers to keep materials flowing in step.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, a high school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education reported by workers in this occupation.
Also called: Automatic Oven Operator, Bakery Production Associate, Bakery Production Worker, Bakery Worker, Baking Assistant.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $15.98 | $18.05 | $21.54 | $24.37 | $30.14 | $22.08 | 20,370 |
| Annual | $33,250 | $37,540 | $44,810 | $50,680 | $62,680 | $45,930 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| North Dakota | Hourly | $22.64 | $24.21 | $37.16 | $37.18 | $37.18 | $30.70 | 30 | 0.07 | 0.54 |
| Annual | $47,090 | $50,350 | $77,300 | $77,320 | $77,320 | $63,860 | ||||
| Maryland | Hourly | $18.92 | $22.71 | $28.93 | $37.86 | $37.86 | $29.48 | 200 | 0.07 | 0.55 |
| Annual | $39,340 | $47,230 | $60,170 | $78,750 | $78,750 | $61,310 | ||||
| Colorado | Hourly | $18.58 | $22.10 | $28.65 | $31.23 | $35.78 | $27.19 | 500 | 0.18 | 1.34 |
| Annual | $38,640 | $45,970 | $59,590 | $64,970 | $74,420 | $56,550 | ||||
| Virginia | Hourly | $16.72 | $19.85 | $28.49 | $40.63 | $40.63 | $28.27 | 270 | 0.07 | 0.49 |
| Annual | $34,790 | $41,280 | $59,260 | $84,520 | $84,520 | $58,810 | ||||
| Alaska | Hourly | $19.70 | $21.51 | $26.58 | $27.10 | $27.50 | $24.59 | 30 | 0.10 | 0.76 |
| Annual | $40,970 | $44,750 | $55,280 | $56,370 | $57,200 | $51,140 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $12.90 | $15.50 | $17.86 | $20.91 | $23.73 | $18.07 | 1,800 | 0.13 | 0.98 |
| Annual | $26,840 | $32,240 | $37,140 | $43,480 | $49,360 | $37,590 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $17.22 | $18.45 | $21.93 | $23.57 | $29.82 | $22.33 | 1,630 | 0.09 | 0.68 |
| Annual | $35,820 | $38,370 | $45,600 | $49,030 | $62,020 | $46,450 | ||||
| North Carolina | Hourly | $13.09 | $13.90 | $17.30 | $25.76 | $37.49 | $20.84 | 1,510 | 0.31 | 2.33 |
| Annual | $27,230 | $28,920 | $35,980 | $53,580 | $77,980 | $43,350 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $17.16 | $20.95 | $23.57 | $25.50 | $29.40 | $23.54 | 1,370 | 0.14 | 1.08 |
| Annual | $35,690 | $43,570 | $49,020 | $53,030 | $61,150 | $48,970 | ||||
| Minnesota | Hourly | $20.07 | $22.58 | $24.20 | $31.62 | $34.14 | $26.64 | 1,120 | 0.38 | 2.91 |
| Annual | $41,750 | $46,960 | $50,340 | $65,780 | $71,010 | $55,400 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | Hourly | $17.89 | $23.65 | $37.86 | $37.86 | $37.86 | $31.20 | 120 | 0.09 | 0.68 |
| Annual | $37,210 | $49,180 | $78,750 | $78,750 | $78,750 | $64,890 | ||||
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | Hourly | $22.47 | $27.52 | $30.23 | $35.78 | $35.78 | $29.89 | 310 | 0.19 | 1.45 |
| Annual | $46,740 | $57,240 | $62,890 | $74,420 | $74,420 | $62,180 | ||||
| Modesto, CA | Hourly | $17.63 | $23.41 | $29.39 | $29.39 | $32.33 | $26.79 | 70 | 0.38 | 2.91 |
| Annual | $36,670 | $48,690 | $61,130 | $61,130 | $67,250 | $55,730 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $21.41 | $22.72 | $28.96 | $29.44 | $37.68 | $28.66 | 280 | 0.13 | 1.01 |
| Annual | $44,530 | $47,260 | $60,230 | $61,240 | $78,370 | $59,610 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $18.37 | $22.20 | $28.93 | $28.93 | $30.19 | $26.01 | 90 | 0.03 | 0.22 |
| Annual | $38,220 | $46,170 | $60,170 | $60,170 | $62,800 | $54,110 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $16.77 | $17.86 | $22.65 | $24.66 | $27.52 | $22.27 | 1,190 | 0.13 | 0.96 |
| Annual | $34,880 | $37,140 | $47,110 | $51,290 | $57,240 | $46,330 | ||||
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Hourly | $17.80 | $17.86 | $23.24 | $27.31 | $29.47 | $23.11 | 460 | 0.16 | 1.22 |
| Annual | $37,020 | $37,140 | $48,330 | $56,810 | $61,300 | $48,060 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $18.18 | $18.35 | $18.38 | $20.58 | $27.03 | $20.23 | 440 | 0.10 | 0.74 |
| Annual | $37,820 | $38,160 | $38,230 | $42,810 | $56,230 | $42,080 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $12.91 | $16.51 | $18.30 | $23.73 | $23.94 | $19.35 | 420 | 0.10 | 0.78 |
| Annual | $26,840 | $34,340 | $38,060 | $49,370 | $49,800 | $40,250 | ||||
| Omaha, NE-IA | Hourly | $18.16 | $18.75 | $20.87 | $23.03 | $26.54 | $21.76 | 380 | 0.76 | 5.77 |
| Annual | $37,770 | $39,010 | $43,410 | $47,900 | $55,210 | $45,260 | ||||
Top industries employing food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders
Other Food Manufacturing employ 23.3% of food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders nationally (4,740 jobs) at a median $45,090 a year ($21.68 an hour), followed by Animal Slaughtering and Processing (16.8%) and Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing (12.6%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other Food Manufacturing NAICS 311900 | 4,740 | 23.3% | $45,090 | $21.68 |
| Animal Slaughtering and Processing NAICS 311600 | 3,420 | 16.8% | $44,550 | $21.42 |
| Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing NAICS 311800 | 2,560 | 12.6% | $42,390 | $20.38 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing NAICS 311400 | 1,930 | 9.5% | $39,080 | $18.79 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4244 and 4248 only) NAICS 4240A1 | 1,270 | 6.2% | $46,680 | $22.44 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (20,370). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $35,480 for food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders in May 2021 and $44,810 in May 2025, with employment of 21,050 and 20,370.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $35,480 | $17.06 | 21,050 |
| May 2022 | $37,790 | $18.17 | 20,010 |
| May 2023 | $39,850 | $19.16 | 19,570 |
| May 2024 | $42,730 | $20.54 | 19,500 |
| May 2025 | $44,810 | $21.54 | 20,370 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
44 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota profile | $37.16 | $77,300 | $47,090 | $77,320 | 30 | 0.07 | 0.54 |
| 2 | Maryland profile | $28.93 | $60,170 | $39,340 | $78,750 | 200 | 0.07 | 0.55 |
| 3 | Colorado profile | $28.65 | $59,590 | $38,640 | $74,420 | 500 | 0.18 | 1.34 |
| 4 | Virginia profile | $28.49 | $59,260 | $34,790 | $84,520 | 270 | 0.07 | 0.49 |
| 5 | Alaska profile | $26.58 | $55,280 | $40,970 | $57,200 | 30 | 0.10 | 0.76 |
| 6 | Nevada profile | $26.42 | $54,950 | $44,910 | $65,260 | 130 | 0.08 | 0.63 |
| 7 | Washington profile | $24.32 | $50,590 | $37,500 | $73,290 | 720 | 0.20 | 1.54 |
| 8 | Minnesota profile | $24.20 | $50,340 | $41,750 | $71,010 | 1,120 | 0.38 | 2.91 |
| 9 | Maine profile | $24.14 | $50,220 | $40,130 | $62,680 | 100 | 0.16 | 1.24 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania profile | $23.87 | $49,660 | $33,500 | $61,290 | 540 | 0.09 | 0.69 |
| 11 | New York profile | $23.57 | $49,020 | $35,690 | $61,150 | 1,370 | 0.14 | 1.08 |
| 12 | Wisconsin profile | $23.34 | $48,560 | $38,120 | $60,740 | 540 | 0.18 | 1.39 |
| 13 | Kentucky profile | $23.34 | $48,540 | $27,690 | $64,470 | 340 | 0.17 | 1.30 |
| 14 | Idaho profile | $23.20 | $48,250 | $37,910 | $55,860 | 430 | 0.50 | 3.82 |
| 15 | Michigan profile | $23.19 | $48,240 | $35,870 | $62,170 | 700 | 0.16 | 1.22 |
| 16 | Iowa profile | $23.06 | $47,960 | $36,480 | $63,340 | 660 | 0.42 | 3.24 |
| 17 | Utah profile | $23.05 | $47,940 | $37,550 | $52,060 | 130 | 0.07 | 0.56 |
| 18 | Oregon profile | $22.24 | $46,250 | $35,900 | $65,010 | 500 | 0.25 | 1.94 |
| 19 | California profile | $21.93 | $45,600 | $35,820 | $62,020 | 1,630 | 0.09 | 0.68 |
| 20 | Massachusetts profile | $21.83 | $45,400 | $41,360 | $54,390 | 190 | 0.05 | 0.39 |
| 21 | Hawaii profile | $21.82 | $45,390 | $38,740 | $48,760 | 90 | 0.14 | 1.06 |
| 22 | Arkansas profile | $21.67 | $45,080 | $37,270 | $49,960 | 580 | 0.45 | 3.43 |
| 23 | South Dakota profile | $21.66 | $45,040 | $37,040 | $60,220 | 120 | 0.27 | 2.05 |
| 24 | Kansas profile | $21.42 | $44,550 | $37,080 | $47,130 | 220 | 0.15 | 1.17 |
| 25 | Ohio profile | $21.25 | $44,190 | $33,280 | $47,090 | 910 | 0.16 | 1.25 |
| 26 | Missouri profile | $20.89 | $43,460 | $33,380 | $53,910 | 1,030 | 0.35 | 2.67 |
| 27 | Nebraska profile | $20.87 | $43,410 | $37,770 | $58,330 | 440 | 0.43 | 3.27 |
| 28 | Indiana profile | $20.85 | $43,370 | $36,080 | $61,090 | 260 | 0.08 | 0.63 |
| 29 | Arizona profile | $20.68 | $43,010 | $35,270 | $58,630 | 90 | 0.03 | 0.21 |
| 30 | Oklahoma profile | $20.38 | $42,390 | $30,150 | $46,540 | 370 | 0.22 | 1.67 |
| 31 | Connecticut profile | $20.06 | $41,720 | $34,010 | $48,250 | 60 | 0.03 | 0.25 |
| 32 | Vermont profile | $19.71 | $40,990 | $40,260 | $54,070 | 80 | 0.27 | 2.08 |
| 33 | South Carolina profile | $19.23 | $40,000 | $33,810 | $50,220 | 140 | 0.06 | 0.47 |
| 34 | Tennessee profile | $18.81 | $39,130 | $31,510 | $55,090 | 350 | 0.11 | 0.83 |
| 35 | Louisiana profile | $18.48 | $38,440 | $26,920 | $47,530 | 80 | 0.04 | 0.33 |
| 36 | Illinois profile | $18.38 | $38,230 | $36,300 | $56,710 | 440 | 0.07 | 0.55 |
| 37 | Georgia profile | $17.97 | $37,390 | $30,860 | $55,960 | 290 | 0.06 | 0.45 |
| 38 | New Jersey profile | $17.86 | $37,140 | $34,880 | $45,560 | 630 | 0.15 | 1.12 |
| 39 | Texas profile | $17.86 | $37,140 | $26,840 | $49,360 | 1,800 | 0.13 | 0.98 |
| 40 | Mississippi profile | $17.80 | $37,030 | $33,230 | $43,490 | 60 | 0.05 | 0.41 |
| 41 | North Carolina profile | $17.30 | $35,980 | $27,230 | $77,980 | 1,510 | 0.31 | 2.33 |
| 42 | New Mexico profile | $17.06 | $35,480 | $31,680 | $44,960 | 70 | 0.08 | 0.58 |
| 43 | Montana profile | $17.00 | $35,360 | $31,960 | $49,260 | 130 | 0.25 | 1.91 |
| 44 | Florida profile | $16.99 | $35,340 | $27,510 | $48,120 | 360 | 0.04 | 0.27 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (51-3090), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Production Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 51-3091 Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 51-3091, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 51-3091.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.