Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,720 a year or less, while the top 10% make $39,790 or more. The middle half of food cooking machine operators and tenders in Washington earn between $33,770 and $39,790.
- $32K10th
- $34K25th
- $40KMedian
- $40K75th
- $40K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $37,390 | $3,116 | $17.98 |
| Median | $39,790 | $3,316 | $19.13 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $33,770 | $2,814 | $16.24 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $39,790 | $3,316 | $19.13 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders pay in Washington vs. Washington, D.C. and the U.S.
Food cooking machine operators and tenders in Washington earn 12% less than the U.S. average ($42,570). At the median the gap is -4% against the U.S. median of $41,590.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $37,390 | $39,790 | $31,720 | $39,790 | 490 |
| United States | $42,570 | $41,590 | $31,680 | $54,410 | 31,250 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary after taxes in Washington
On the average salary of $37,390, a single filer in Washington takes home about $31,145 a year, or $2,595 a month and $1,198 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $31,262 | $2,605 |
| Working in DC | $31,145 | $2,595 |
| Working in VA | $30,887 | $2,574 |
| Working in MD | $30,658 | $2,555 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for food cooking machine operators and tenders? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $37,390 buys what about $34,339 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 15.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in nearby metro areas
- Hagerstown, MD$34,310
- Baltimore, MD$37,110
- York, PA$46,300
- Richmond, VA$37,320
- Altoona, PA$36,540
- Reading, PA$43,480
Highest-paying cities for food cooking machine operators and tenders
Modesto, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($63,280).
- Modesto, CA$63,280
- Cedar Rapids, IA$61,670
- Seattle, WA$54,550
- Boise, ID$51,170
- Kiryas Joel, NY$51,070
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Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in Washington: questions
How much do food cooking machine operators and tenders make an hour in Washington?
$17.98 an hour on average, and $19.13 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food cooking machine operators and tenders salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,720 a year and the 25th percentile is $33,770, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food cooking machine operators and tenders take-home pay in Washington?
About $31,145 a year ($2,595 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $37,390.
Do food cooking machine operators and tenders earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% less than the U.S. average for this job ($42,570).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 51-3093; area Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.2%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.78, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.78).
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