Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders

SOC code 51-3091 · O*NET-SOC 51-3091.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Manufacturing and production

Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders pay

U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number

Median pay

$44,810

a year

Hourly

$21.54

per hour

10th$33,250Median$44,81090th$62,680

The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.

Average pay

$45,930

$22.08 per hour

Middle 50%

$37,540 – $50,680

25th to 75th percentile

Full spread

$33,250 – $62,680

10th to 90th percentile

People employed

20,370

nationwide

National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.

10th percentile: $33,250; $15.98/hr
25th percentile: $37,540; $18.05/hr
Median percentile: $44,810; $21.54/hr
75th percentile: $50,680; $24.37/hr
90th percentile: $62,680; $30.14/hr

What do food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders do?

Operate or tend food or tobacco roasting, baking, or drying equipment, including hearth ovens, kiln driers, roasters, char kilns, and vacuum drying equipment.

The tasks that matter most day to day

Observe, feel, taste, or otherwise examine products during and after processing to ensure conformance to standards.
Take product samples during or after processing for laboratory analyses.
Set temperature and time controls, light ovens, burners, driers, or roasters, and start equipment, such as conveyors, cylinders, blowers, driers, or pumps.
Observe temperature, humidity, pressure gauges, and product samples and adjust controls, such as thermostats and valves, to maintain prescribed operating conditions for specific stages.
Observe flow of materials and listen for machine malfunctions, such as jamming or spillage, and notify supervisors if corrective actions fail.
Test products for moisture content, using moisture meters.
Record production data, such as weight and amount of product processed, type of product, and time and temperature of processing.
Weigh or measure products, using scale hoppers or scale conveyors.

How to qualify for this work

Most people in this role hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged) — 61% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.

Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed

Education: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Experience: Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Training: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.

See all zone 2 occupations →

Education reported by people doing this job

High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)61%
Less than a High School Diploma23%
Some College Courses11%
Post-Secondary Certificate6%

Common questions

How much does a food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders earn?

The national median is $44,810 a year. The full range runs from $33,250 at the 10th percentile to $62,680 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.

Can you become a food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders without a degree?

Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.

Skills and knowledge you need

Core skills

Monitoring3.5/5
Reading Comprehension3.1/5
Active Listening3.1/5
Critical Thinking3.1/5
Speaking3.0/5

Knowledge areas

Production and Processing3.6/5
English Language3.3/5
Public Safety and Security3.0/5
Food Production3.0/5

Transferable strengths: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Quality Control Analysis, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination.