Production & Manufacturing · Operate or tend cooking equipment, such as steam cooking vats, deep fry cookers, pressure cookers, kettles, and boilers, to prepare food products.
This profile is intended as career exploration guidance based on federal labor data. Actual job requirements, salaries, and opportunities vary by employer and location.
Entry Salary
$34–42k
First 1–2 years
Peak Salary
$44–52k
10+ years experience
Job Outlook
+0.6% · Slower than average
Projected growth of 0.6% from 2024 to 2034; about 4 openings projected per year.
Time to Start
1–2 years
College degree typical
Salary data sourced from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) May 2024. Actual compensation varies by location, experience, employer, and specialization.
Entry-Level Tenders
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders
Experienced Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders
Senior Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders
Director of Production & Manufacturing
You prioritize Support
This career is strongly aligned with Support — a core work value that shapes how people approach their career decisions.
You're strong in Operations Monitoring
Operations Monitoring is a top skill for this career, and it plays to what students like you naturally do best.
Good fit for your timeline
This career typically requires short-term training (less than 1 year), which matches common student preparation goals.
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