CFChooseField
Production

Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders

Operate or tend cooking equipment, such as steam cooking vats, deep fry cookers, pressure cookers, kettles, and boilers, to prepare food products.

Visual summary of pay, outlook, skills, interests, and preparation for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders
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Median pay

$40,550
Median annual pay for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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10-year growth

0.6%
Projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Annual openings

4,400
Projected annual openings, including growth and replacement demand.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Employment

29,700
Estimated U.S. employment for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in 2024.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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Jobs added or lost

+200
Projected numeric employment change from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Entry preparation

High school diploma or equivalent
Typical additional preparation: Moderate-term on-the-job training.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024 profile
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O*NET occupation profile

What the work involves

Strongest O*NET signals first.

Essential skills

  1. 1Monitoring
  2. 2Reading Comprehension
  3. 3Active Listening
  4. 4Critical Thinking
  5. 5Writing
  6. 6Active Learning

Knowledge areas

  1. 1Production and Processing
  2. 2Food Production
  3. 3Administration and Management
  4. 4Education and Training
  5. 5Mechanical
  6. 6English Language

Abilities

  1. 1Problem Sensitivity
  2. 2Oral Comprehension
  3. 3Written Comprehension
  4. 4Near Vision
  5. 5Control Precision
  6. 6Information Ordering

Career interests

  1. 1Realistic
  2. 2Conventional
  3. 3Investigative
  4. 4Enterprising
  5. 5Social
  6. 6Artistic

Work styles

  1. 1Dependability
  2. 2Attention to Detail
  3. 3Cautiousness
  4. 4Stress Tolerance
  5. 5Self-Control
  6. 6Integrity

Work activities

  1. 1Documenting/Recording Information
  2. 2Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
  3. 3Getting Information
  4. 4Controlling Machines and Processes
  5. 5Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
  6. 6Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events

Work context

  1. 1Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
  2. 2Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
  3. 3Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
  4. 4Freedom to Make Decisions
  5. 5Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
  6. 6Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams

Representative tasks

  • Clean, wash, and sterilize equipment and cooking area, using water hoses, cleaning or sterilizing solutions, or rinses.
  • Read work orders, recipes, or formulas to determine cooking times and temperatures, and ingredient specifications.
  • Observe gauges, dials, and product characteristics, and adjust controls to maintain appropriate temperature, pressure, and flow of ingredients.
  • Measure or weigh ingredients, using scales or measuring containers.
  • Tend or operate and control equipment, such as kettles, cookers, vats and tanks, and boilers, to cook ingredients or prepare products for further processing.
  • Record production and test data, such as processing steps, temperature and steam readings, cooking time, batches processed, and test results.
  • Set temperature, pressure, and time controls, and start conveyers, machines, or pumps.
  • Remove cooked material or products from equipment.

Software and tools

Database software

Sources

BLS provides national pay, employment, and projections. O*NET provides skills, interests, preparation, tasks, work context, and tools.

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