Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders Salary in Pennsylvania
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Pennsylvania make a median of $38,570 a year, or about $18.54 an hour. The range runs from $33K at the entry level to $53K for experienced workers.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $39K get you in Pennsylvania?
About food cooking machine operators and tenders
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Pennsylvania
Entry-level food cooking machine operators and tenders (10th percentile) start around $33K. Mid-career wages sit at $39K. Top earners bring in $53K or more, a $19K spread from bottom to top.
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary by metro in Pennsylvania
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| York-Hanover | $50K | +29% | 230 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre | $48K | +23% | 130 |
| Erie | $38K | -1% | 40 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $37K | -3% | 560 |
| Pittsburgh | $36K | -6% | 110 |
| Altoona | $36K | -7% | 70 |
| Reading | $36K | -7% | 40 |
| Lancaster | $36K | -7% | 100 |
Compare to other states
Track food cooking machine operators and tenders salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pennsylvania numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do food cooking machine operators and tenders make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $38,570 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $33,380, and experienced food cooking machine operators and tenders can clear $52,870. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $39K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,654/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 50.9% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania 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 $40,613 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.