SOC 51-3093 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders — Utah
Utah · 2 metro areas compared
In Utah the median wage for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders is $48,620 a year, which is 16.9% higher than the national figure of $41,590.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Utah the median wage for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders is $48,620 a year, which is 16.9% higher than the national figure of $41,590. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $37,070 and $52,630. The lowest tenth earn under $31,850, while the highest tenth earn more than $52,830.
The area has 390 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.12 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Utah ranks number 2nd out of 41 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Salt Lake City records the highest median at $48,010. Of the 695 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 470th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $31,850 | −23.4% |
| 25th | $37,070 | −10.9% |
| Median (50th) | $48,620 | +16.9% |
| 75th | $52,630 | +26.5% |
| 90th | $52,830 | +27.0% |
| Mean | $44,290 | +6.5% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Utah
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Salt Lake City | $48,010 | 70 | |
| 2 | Provo | $38,060 | 170 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Utah sit close to the national average, so $48,620 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$48,620as reported by BLSLocal price level
98.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$49,161US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $48,620 a year, 16.9% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $31,850 to $52,830 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 390 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 2nd of 41 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Salt Lake City, at $48,010.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Utah?
The median annual wage is $48,620, or $23.37 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 $41,590, so pay in Utah is 16.9% 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 Utah earns more than $52,830 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $31,850 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 Salt Lake City, at $48,010 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 390 jobs in this occupation in Utah. 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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