SOC 51-3091 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders — Wisconsin
Wisconsin · 2 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Wisconsin comes to $48,560 a year, ahead of the national median of $44,810 by 8.4%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Wisconsin comes to $48,560 a year, ahead of the national median of $44,810 by 8.4%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $40,140 and $56,100. The lowest tenth earn under $38,120, while the highest tenth earn more than $60,740.
Employment stands at 540, or 0.2 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 44 states with published data for this occupation, Wisconsin ranks 12th by median wage. Appleton leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $55,400. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 502nd of 728 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,120 | −14.9% |
| 25th | $40,140 | −10.4% |
| Median (50th) | $48,560 | +8.4% |
| 75th | $56,100 | +25.2% |
| 90th | $60,740 | +35.6% |
| Mean | $48,950 | +9.2% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Wisconsin
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Wisconsin run 5.9% below the national average, so the median of $48,560 goes as far as $51,605 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 15.2% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$48,560as reported by BLSLocal price level
94.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$51,605US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $48,560 a year, 8.4% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $38,120 to $60,740 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 540 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 12th of 44 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Appleton, at $55,400.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders in Wisconsin?
The median annual wage is $48,560, or $23.34 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $44,810, so pay in Wisconsin is 8.4% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Wisconsin earns more than $60,740 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $38,120 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Appleton, at $55,400 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 540 jobs in this occupation in Wisconsin. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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