Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders Salary in Indiana
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Indiana make a median of $41,600 a year, or about $20 an hour. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $51K for experienced workers.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Indiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $42K get you in Indiana?
About food cooking machine operators and tenders
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Indiana
Entry-level food cooking machine operators and tenders (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $42K. Top earners bring in $51K or more, a $19K spread from bottom to top.
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary by metro in Indiana
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evansville | $48K | +16% | 50 |
| Fort Wayne | $39K | -5% | 40 |
| Elkhart-Goshen | $39K | -6% | N/A |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Indiana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do food cooking machine operators and tenders make in Indiana?
The median is $41,600 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $31,460, and experienced food cooking machine operators and tenders can clear $50,550. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $42K enough to live in Indiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,850/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,144/month, which eats 40.1% 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 Indiana?
Indiana has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median food cooking machine operators and tenders salary is worth about $45,311 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.