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Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders vs. First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers: Who Earns More?

First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers out-earn Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders by $30K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders land at $44,810 and First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers at $74,450. The education gap is real: food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tender programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while first-line supervisors of production and operating worker programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders is North Dakota ($77,300); for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers it's Wyoming ($90,390).

Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
Median salary
$44,810
$74,450
Hourly rate
$21.54/hr
$35.79/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$33,250
$47,130
Senior level (90th %)
$62,680
$108,750
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
20,370
673,430
Job growth (10-year)
0.6%
1.2%
Category
Production & Manufacturing
Production & Manufacturing
Top-paying state
North Dakota
Wyoming

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders median pay.

State
Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
North Dakota
$77,300
$76,350
Maryland
$60,170
$78,520
Colorado
$59,590
$78,890
Alaska
$55,280
$77,960
Washington
$50,590
$79,310
Minnesota
$50,340
$78,550
Maine
$50,220
$78,970
New York
$49,020
$78,580
California
$45,600
$76,840
Massachusetts
$45,400
$79,920
Connecticut
$41,720
$83,150
Vermont
$40,990
$75,540
South Carolina
$40,000
$77,500
Louisiana
$38,440
$77,520
New Jersey
$37,140
$81,110

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders or First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers?

First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers earn more nationally. The median is $44,810 for Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders versus $74,450 for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers, a difference of $30K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders or First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers?

First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers has the better 10-year outlook at 1.2% projected growth, compared to 0.6% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders or First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers?

Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders get paid the most?

North Dakota is the top-paying state for Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders at $77,300/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders vs. First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In North Dakota, Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders earn $77,300 vs. $76,350 for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders salary breakdownView →Full First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders by take-home payExplore →Best cities for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers by take-home payExplore →How to become a food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tendersGuide →How to become a first-line supervisors of production and operating workersGuide →