Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders pay in Illinois

In Illinois, the median pay for food cooking machine operators and tenders is $20.51 an hour ($42,670 a year). About 2,460 people work in this job there.

$20.51Median hourly pay
$36,490–$47,200Middle half of workers, yearly
2,460People in this job in Illinois

That is 3% higher than the U.S. median ($41,590). Illinois ranks 19th of 41 states and territories for this job’s median pay.

Pay range for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Illinois

Earns more thanHourlyYearly
10% of workers$15.62$32,480
25% of workers$17.54$36,490
Half of workers (median)$20.51$42,670
75% of workers$22.69$47,200
90% of workers$24.67$51,320

Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders pay in Illinois metro areas

Metro areaMedian yearly payPeople in this job
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin$44,2801,900

Illinois unemployment rate: 4.7% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Education, experience and outlook for food cooking machine operators and tenders

  • Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS)
  • Related work experience most have: 1 to 3 months (O*NET)
  • Training on the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training (BLS)
  • Job outlook: -0.3% over ten years, little or no change · about 3,700 openings a year (BLS)

Related jobs in Illinois

JobMedian yearly pay
Cooks, Restaurant$37,580
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$43,150
Bakers$37,030
Food Batchmakers$48,130
Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$53,560
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$48,440
Butchers and Meat Cutters$39,240
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers$40,690

Other job titles for this job

Food Production WorkerOven OperatorSteam Oven OperatorWine PasteurizerBakery FryerBlanching Machine OperatorBoilerCasing CookerChip FryerCoconut BoilerConfectionery CookerCook Box Filler

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.