Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders Salary in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA make a median of $44,140 a year, or about $21.22 an hour. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $46K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 105.42), so that salary is closer to $41,871 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,922/month — about 63.1% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $44K get you in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro’s Regional Price Parity (105.42). 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, Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA
Entry-level food cooking machine operators and tenders (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $44K. Top earners bring in $46K or more, a $10K 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 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do food cooking machine operators and tenders make in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA?
The median is $44,140 a year, that works out to about $21 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,190, and experienced food cooking machine operators and tenders can clear $46,220. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $44K enough to live in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,847/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,922/month, which eats 67.5% 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 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro?
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro has a Regional Price Parity of 105.42 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median food cooking machine operators and tenders salary is worth about $41,871 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.