Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,430 a year or less, while the top 10% make $52,600 or more. The middle half of food cooking machine operators and tenders in Chicago earn between $37,680 and $47,210.
- $36K10th
- $38K25th
- $44KMedian
- $47K75th
- $53K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $44,010 | $3,668 | $21.16 |
| Median | $44,280 | $3,690 | $21.29 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $37,680 | $3,140 | $18.12 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $47,210 | $3,934 | $22.70 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Food cooking machine operators and tenders in Chicago earn 3% more than the Illinois average ($42,590) and 3% more than the U.S. average ($42,570). At the median the gap is +6% against the U.S. median of $41,590.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $44,010 | $44,280 | $36,430 | $52,600 | 1,900 |
| Illinois | $42,590 | $42,670 | $32,480 | $51,320 | 2,460 |
| United States | $42,570 | $41,590 | $31,680 | $54,410 | 31,250 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $44,010, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $35,505 a year, or $2,959 a month and $1,366 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $36,252 | $3,021 |
| Working in IL | $35,505 | $2,959 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for food cooking machine operators and tenders? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $44,010 buys what about $42,483 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 8.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in nearby metro areas
- Milwaukee, WI$42,950
- Grand Rapids, MI$47,490
- Davenport, IA$46,750
- Fond du Lac, WI$42,040
- Dubuque, IA$47,550
- Appleton, WI$47,520
Highest-paying cities for food cooking machine operators and tenders
Modesto, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($63,280).
- Modesto, CA$63,280
- Cedar Rapids, IA$61,670
- Seattle, WA$54,550
- Boise, ID$51,170
- Kiryas Joel, NY$51,070
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Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in Chicago: questions
How much do food cooking machine operators and tenders make an hour in Chicago?
$21.16 an hour on average, and $21.29 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food cooking machine operators and tenders salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,430 a year and the 25th percentile is $37,680, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food cooking machine operators and tenders take-home pay in Chicago?
About $35,505 a year ($2,959 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $44,010.
Do food cooking machine operators and tenders earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% more than the U.S. average for this job ($42,570).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 51-3093; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.1%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.09, this job is 2.1 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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