Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders pay in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin
In Chicago-Naperville-Elgin (IL), the median pay for food cooking machine operators and tenders is $21.29 an hour ($44,280 a year). About 1,900 people work in this job there.
That is 6% higher than the U.S. median ($41,590). It is 4% higher than the Illinois median ($42,670).
Pay range for food cooking machine operators and tenders in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin (IL)
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $17.51 | $36,430 |
| 25% of workers | $18.11 | $37,680 |
| Half of workers (median) | $21.29 | $44,280 |
| 75% of workers | $22.70 | $47,210 |
| 90% of workers | $25.29 | $52,600 |
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders pay in Illinois metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin (this page) | $44,280 | 1,900 |
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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin (IL)
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,930 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,290 |
| Bakers | $37,230 |
| Food Batchmakers | $47,660 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,230 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $40,410 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $40,690 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $39,200 |
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: 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.