Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders Salary in Elkhart-Goshen, IN
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Elkhart-Goshen, IN make a median of $38,980 a year, or about $18.74 an hour. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $50K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.33), which stretches that salary to about $43,153 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,183/month — about 43.7% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $39K get you in Elkhart-Goshen?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Elkhart-Goshen’s Regional Price Parity (90.33). 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 cooking machine operators and tenders
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Elkhart-Goshen, IN
Entry-level food cooking machine operators and tenders (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $39K. Top earners bring in $50K or more, a $11K 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 |
| Indiana | $42K | +3% | 690 |
| Wisconsin | $40K | -0% | 1,050 |
| Kentucky | $40K | -2% | 340 |
| Ohio | $39K | -4% | 1,330 |
| Pennsylvania | $39K | -5% | 1,350 |
| Georgia | $38K | -6% | 440 |
| Maryland | $38K | -6% | 260 |
| South Dakota | $38K | -6% | 110 |
| Arkansas | $38K | -7% | 260 |
| Utah | $38K | -7% | 520 |
| Louisiana | $38K | -7% | N/A |
| North Carolina | $37K | -8% | 580 |
| South Carolina | $37K | -9% | 560 |
| Virginia | $37K | -9% | 730 |
| Maine | $37K | -9% | 250 |
| New Jersey | $36K | -11% | 650 |
| Missouri | $36K | -11% | 700 |
| New Hampshire | $35K | -13% | 30 |
| Arizona | $34K | -17% | 700 |
| Florida | $33K | -18% | 880 |
| Texas | $33K | -18% | 2,390 |
| Mississippi | $32K | -20% | 140 |
| Alabama | $26K | -35% | 320 |
Showing 1–10 of 38 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track food cooking machine operators and tenders salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Elkhart-Goshen numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do food cooking machine operators and tenders make in Elkhart-Goshen, IN?
The median is $38,980 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,960, and experienced food cooking machine operators and tenders can clear $50,050. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $39K enough to live in Elkhart-Goshen?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,681/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,183/month, which eats 44.1% 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 cooking machine operators and tenders salary go in Elkhart-Goshen?
Elkhart-Goshen has a Regional Price Parity of 90.33 (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 $43,153 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.