Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders Salary
Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders in Georgia make a median of $37,390 a year, or about $17.97 an hour. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $56K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.89), which stretches that salary to about $40,690 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,434/month, about 56.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Georgia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $37K get you in Georgia?
About food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Georgia
Pay for food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders in Georgia runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $45K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,434/month, which is 56.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenderss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Georgia
Entry-level food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $37K. Top earners bring in $56K or more, a $25K spread from bottom to top.
Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders salary by metro in Georgia
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $38K | +1% | 150 |
Compare to other states
Track food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Georgia numbers change.
Related careers in Production & Manufacturing
Frequently asked questions
Can a food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in Georgia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $37K, rent takes 56.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,434/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders in Georgia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,852/month. At HUD’s $1,434/month FMR, rent would take 77% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tender a high-paying job in Georgia?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $37K here vs. $45K nationally. Cost of living is 8% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Georgia compare to the national average for food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders?
Georgia pays $37K median vs. the U.S. average of $45K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $41K — below the national median.
How much do food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders make in Georgia?
The median is $37,390 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,860, and experienced food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders can clear $55,960. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $37K enough to live in Georgia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,540/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,434/month, which eats 56.5% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders salary go in Georgia?
Georgia has a Regional Price Parity of 91.89 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders salary is worth about $40,690 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.