Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders
SOC 51-3091 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders is $39,850, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $42,410, and an estimated 19,570 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +22.7% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of +4.2% after inflation. BLS projects employment will grow 0.6% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $39,850 | $39,850 | 19,570 |
| 2022 | $37,790 | $39,346 | 20,010 |
| 2021 | $35,480 | $39,897 | 21,050 |
| 2020 | $32,480 | $38,239 | 19,010 |
Nominal change
+22.7%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
+4.2%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
+0.6%
About average
Employment 2024
20,700
Projected 2034
20,800
Annual Openings
2,400
Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $39,850. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | $68,640 | +72.2% | — |
| Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $58,220 | +46.1% | 370 |
| Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $53,770 | +34.9% | 100 |
| South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $52,170 | +30.9% | 50 |
| Minnesota | $51,540 | +29.3% | 1,120 |
| Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $51,520 | +29.3% | 80 |
| South Carolina | $51,350 | +28.9% | 230 |
| Wisconsin | $51,270 | +28.7% | 400 |
| North Carolina | $51,220 | +28.5% | 600 |
| Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $50,290 | +26.2% | 120 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$29,650
25th Pct
$34,740
Median
$39,850
75th Pct
$48,480
90th Pct
$59,020
Related Occupations in Production
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.