Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders
Job Zone 2 - Some preparation needed
Operate or tend food or tobacco roasting, baking, or drying equipment, including hearth ovens, kiln driers, roasters, char kilns, and vacuum drying equipment.
Median pay: $44,810/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)
Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.
Job outlook: +0.6% projected growth, 2024–2034 — slower than average.
About 2,400 openings per year, on average, over the decade.
Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.
• Observe, feel, taste, or otherwise examine products during and after processing to ensure conformance to standards.
• Set temperature and time controls, light ovens, burners, driers, or roasters, and start equipment, such as conveyors, cylinders, blowers, driers, or pumps.
• Observe temperature, humidity, pressure gauges, and product samples and adjust controls, such as thermostats and valves, to maintain prescribed operating conditions for specific stages.
• Observe flow of materials and listen for machine malfunctions, such as jamming or spillage, and notify supervisors if corrective actions fail.
• Record production data, such as weight and amount of product processed, type of product, and time and temperature of processing.
• Weigh or measure products, using scale hoppers or scale conveyors.
• Operate or tend equipment that roasts, bakes, dries, or cures food items such as cocoa and coffee beans, grains, nuts, and bakery products.
• Signal coworkers to synchronize flow of materials.
What's the median pay for Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders?
The median pay for Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders is $44,810 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What's the job outlook for Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders?
Employment for Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders is projected to change +0.6% from 2024 to 2034 - slower than average.
What education is typically required for Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders?
Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
How many job openings are there each year for Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders?
About 2,400 openings per year, on average, over the decade.