Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders Salary in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC make a median of $41,650 a year, or about $20.02 an hour. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $52K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.94), that's roughly $42,526 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,713/month — about 60.3% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $42K get you in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk’s Regional Price Parity (97.94). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
Entry-level food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $42K. Top earners bring in $52K or more, a $22K spread from bottom to top.
Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $54K | +26% | 160 |
| North Dakota | $52K | +22% | 30 |
| North Carolina | $52K | +21% | 760 |
| Wisconsin | $49K | +15% | 610 |
| Maine | $49K | +14% | 150 |
| Minnesota | $48K | +12% | 900 |
| Montana | $47K | +11% | 70 |
| Massachusetts | $47K | +10% | 230 |
| Nevada | $47K | +10% | 210 |
| Iowa | $46K | +7% | 820 |
| Indiana | $46K | +7% | 660 |
| Missouri | $45K | +6% | 670 |
| California | $45K | +6% | 1,780 |
| Tennessee | $45K | +5% | 700 |
| Oregon | $44K | +4% | 340 |
| Washington | $44K | +3% | 320 |
| Michigan | $44K | +2% | 850 |
| Virginia | $44K | +2% | 490 |
| South Carolina | $44K | +2% | 320 |
| South Dakota | $44K | +2% | 130 |
| Rhode Island | $43K | +1% | N/A |
| Kentucky | $43K | +1% | 370 |
| Ohio | $43K | +0% | 590 |
| Kansas | $42K | -1% | 390 |
| Connecticut | $42K | -1% | 70 |
| Hawaii | $42K | -2% | 120 |
| Nebraska | $41K | -3% | 370 |
| Illinois | $41K | -3% | 150 |
| Utah | $41K | -5% | 150 |
| Idaho | $40K | -6% | 330 |
| Vermont | $40K | -7% | 120 |
| Arkansas | $39K | -8% | 240 |
| Arizona | $39K | -8% | 90 |
| New Jersey | $37K | -13% | 790 |
| Texas | $37K | -13% | 1,680 |
| Louisiana | $37K | -14% | 80 |
| Florida | $37K | -15% | 390 |
| Oklahoma | $36K | -15% | 440 |
| New York | $36K | -15% | N/A |
| Georgia | $36K | -17% | 440 |
| New Mexico | $35K | -18% | 100 |
| Pennsylvania | $34K | -22% | 390 |
Showing 1–10 of 42 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
How much do food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The median is $41,650 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,540, and experienced food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders can clear $51,990. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $42K enough to live in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,802/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,713/month, which eats 61.1% 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 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk?
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk has a Regional Price Parity of 97.94 (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 $42,526 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.