Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders Salary in Appleton, WI
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Appleton, WI make a median of $50,860 a year, or about $24.45 an hour. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $64K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.42), which stretches that salary to about $55,031 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,236/month — about 37% of take-home, which is tight.
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $51K get you in Appleton?
About food cooking machine operators and tenders
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Appleton, WI
Entry-level food cooking machine operators and tenders (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $51K.Top earners bring in $64K or more - a $25K spread from bottom to top.
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | $50K | +23% | 400 |
| Michigan | $48K | +19% | 720 |
| Washington | $48K | +18% | 320 |
| Minnesota | $48K | +18% | 380 |
| New Mexico | $47K | +17% | 290 |
| Idaho | $46K | +15% | 780 |
| New York | $46K | +14% | 960 |
| Iowa | $46K | +13% | 1,000 |
| Kansas | $46K | +12% | 710 |
| Tennessee | $45K | +11% | 1,730 |
| California | $45K | +10% | 2,340 |
| Massachusetts | $43K | +6% | 450 |
| Illinois | $43K | +6% | 920 |
| Oregon | $42K | +5% | 600 |
| Connecticut | $42K | +5% | 80 |
Track food cooking machine operators and tenders salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Appleton numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do food cooking machine operators and tenders make in Appleton, WI?
The median is $50,860 a year - that works out to about $24.45 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,090, and experienced food cooking machine operators and tenders can clear $63,730. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $51K enough to live in Appleton?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,438/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,236/month (HUD Fair Market Rent), which eats 36% 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 cooking machine operators and tenders salary go in Appleton?
Appleton has a Regional Price Parity of 92.42 (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 cooking machine operators and tenders salary is worth about $55,031 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do food cooking 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.