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Operate or tend cooking equipment, such as steam cooking vats, deep fry cookers, pressure cookers, kettles, and boilers, to prepare food products. Excludes "Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders" (51-3091).
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33,340 | 4.3 % | $14.54 | $30,240 | 1.2 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $9.49 | $11.06 | $13.66 | $17.31 | $21.49 |
| Annual Wage (2) | $19,740 | $22,990 | $28,420 | $36,010 | $44,690 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing | 6,350 | 3.84 | $15.43 | $32,100 |
| Animal Slaughtering and Processing | 6,320 | 1.25 | $13.76 | $28,610 |
| Other Food Manufacturing | 4,720 | 2.18 | $16.02 | $33,320 |
| Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing | 4,670 | 1.51 | $14.12 | $29,380 |
| Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing | 1,590 | 2.12 | $15.65 | $32,540 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing | 6,350 | 3.84 | $15.43 | $32,100 |
| Other Food Manufacturing | 4,720 | 2.18 | $16.02 | $33,320 |
| Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing | 1,590 | 2.12 | $15.65 | $32,540 |
| Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing | 4,670 | 1.51 | $14.12 | $29,380 |
| Animal Slaughtering and Processing | 6,320 | 1.25 | $13.76 | $28,610 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grain and Oilseed Milling | 620 | 1.04 | $20.49 | $42,620 |
| Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging | 230 | 0.72 | $17.97 | $37,380 |
| Other Food Manufacturing | 4,720 | 2.18 | $16.02 | $33,320 |
| Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing | 1,590 | 2.12 | $15.65 | $32,540 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4244 and 4248 only) | 670 | 0.07 | $15.50 | $32,230 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 5,270 | 0.32 | 1.35 | $14.35 | $29,840 |
| Texas | 2,520 | 0.21 | 0.91 | $12.32 | $25,630 |
| Ohio | 2,140 | 0.40 | 1.70 | $16.49 | $34,290 |
| Missouri | 1,510 | 0.54 | 2.31 | $13.65 | $28,380 |
| Illinois | 1,270 | 0.21 | 0.92 | $14.51 | $30,180 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | 790 | 1.15 | 4.92 | $15.71 | $32,680 |
| Arkansas | 980 | 0.82 | 3.50 | $15.54 | $32,330 |
| Oregon | 1,000 | 0.55 | 2.33 | $14.46 | $30,070 |
| Missouri | 1,510 | 0.54 | 2.31 | $13.65 | $28,380 |
| Iowa | 810 | 0.53 | 2.26 | $16.11 | $33,500 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | 340 | 0.35 | 1.50 | $19.86 | $41,310 |
| Michigan | 960 | 0.22 | 0.96 | $17.88 | $37,190 |
| Massachusetts | 400 | 0.11 | 0.48 | $17.56 | $36,520 |
| Hawaii | (8) | (8) | (8) | $16.95 | $35,260 |
| Wisconsin | 500 | 0.18 | 0.76 | $16.56 | $34,450 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division | 1,590 | 0.36 | 1.54 | $14.76 | $30,710 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metropolitan Division | 970 | 0.26 | 1.13 | $14.96 | $31,110 |
| New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division | 830 | 0.12 | 0.53 | $12.93 | $26,890 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 600 | 0.23 | 0.97 | $14.57 | $30,310 |
| Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division | 530 | 0.21 | 0.92 | $12.79 | $26,610 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 450 | 0.42 | 1.82 | $14.90 | $30,980 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 450 | 0.15 | 0.65 | $12.45 | $25,900 |
| Oakland-Hayward-Berkeley, CA Metropolitan Division | 350 | 0.30 | 1.30 | $15.59 | $32,420 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 310 | 0.29 | 1.26 | $14.62 | $30,410 |
| Anaheim-Santa Ana-Irvine, CA Metropolitan Division | 300 | 0.19 | 0.80 | $12.14 | $25,240 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gettysburg, PA | 100 | 3.04 | 12.98 | $14.45 | $30,060 |
| Joplin, MO | 230 | 2.94 | 12.57 | $14.53 | $30,210 |
| Gadsden, AL | 70 | 2.06 | 8.82 | $12.81 | $26,650 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 230 | 2.02 | 8.64 | $18.06 | $37,560 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | 130 | 1.53 | 6.56 | $16.82 | $34,980 |
| Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ | 90 | 1.50 | 6.40 | $16.82 | $34,980 |
| York-Hanover, PA | 210 | 1.19 | 5.08 | $18.41 | $38,300 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | 50 | 1.10 | 4.72 | $15.51 | $32,250 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO | 230 | 0.95 | 4.08 | $11.81 | $24,560 |
| Boise City, ID | 270 | 0.89 | 3.80 | $18.28 | $38,020 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | (8) | (8) | (8) | $26.22 | $54,540 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA | 160 | 0.33 | 1.40 | $23.90 | $49,720 |
| San Francisco-Redwood City-South San Francisco, CA Metropolitan Division | (8) | (8) | (8) | $21.03 | $43,750 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 90 | 0.08 | 0.33 | $20.66 | $42,970 |
| Battle Creek, MI | (8) | (8) | (8) | $20.59 | $42,820 |
| Modesto, CA | 120 | 0.68 | 2.89 | $19.00 | $39,510 |
| York-Hanover, PA | 210 | 1.19 | 5.08 | $18.41 | $38,300 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA NECTA Division | 230 | 0.13 | 0.54 | $18.40 | $38,280 |
| Boise City, ID | 270 | 0.89 | 3.80 | $18.28 | $38,020 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 230 | 2.02 | 8.64 | $18.06 | $37,560 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | 510 | 1.91 | 8.16 | $13.26 | $27,570 |
| Balance of Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | 270 | 0.96 | 4.09 | $20.56 | $42,770 |
| North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | 220 | 1.93 | 8.26 | $15.31 | $31,840 |
| Southeast Idaho nonmetropolitan area | 220 | 4.54 | 19.39 | $14.99 | $31,180 |
| Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | 180 | 2.15 | 9.19 | $11.67 | $24,270 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southeast Idaho nonmetropolitan area | 220 | 4.54 | 19.39 | $14.99 | $31,180 |
| Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | 180 | 2.15 | 9.19 | $11.67 | $24,270 |
| North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | 220 | 1.93 | 8.26 | $15.31 | $31,840 |
| North Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | 510 | 1.91 | 8.16 | $13.26 | $27,570 |
| West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | 120 | 1.33 | 5.68 | $15.02 | $31,230 |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area | 70 | 0.88 | 3.77 | $21.92 | $45,590 |
| Balance of Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | 270 | 0.96 | 4.09 | $20.56 | $42,770 |
| Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | 40 | 0.35 | 1.52 | $17.87 | $37,180 |
| South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | 40 | 0.21 | 0.90 | $17.85 | $37,130 |
| Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area | (8) | (8) | (8) | $17.14 | $35,640 |
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.
The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate--50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.
(8) Estimate not released.
(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.
Other OES estimates and related information:
May 2017 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2017 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2017 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2017 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Last Modified Date: March 30, 2018