Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders pay range in McAllen
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $20,770 a year or less, while the top 10% make $39,560 or more. The middle half of food cooking machine operators and tenders in McAllen earn between $21,510 and $34,660.
- $21K10th
- $22K25th
- $27KMedian
- $35K75th
- $40K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $28,710 | $2,392 | $13.80 |
| Median | $26,950 | $2,246 | $12.96 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $21,510 | $1,792 | $10.34 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $34,660 | $2,888 | $16.66 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders pay in McAllen vs. Texas and the U.S.
Food cooking machine operators and tenders in McAllen earn 17% less than the Texas average ($34,570) and 33% less than the U.S. average ($42,570). At the median the gap is -35% against the U.S. median of $41,590.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McAllen | $28,710 | $26,950 | $20,770 | $39,560 | 30 |
| Texas | $34,570 | $33,980 | $25,480 | $45,460 | 3,180 |
| 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 McAllen
On the average salary of $28,710, a single filer in McAllen takes home about $25,248 a year, or $2,104 a month and $971 every two weeks. Taxes take 12% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is McAllen a good place for food cooking machine operators and tenders? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the McAllen area are 14% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 85.9), so the average $28,710 buys what about $33,425 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in McAllen ($35,830). A typical home costs $193,978, or 6.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in other Texas cities
McAllen ranks 6th of 6 Texas metro areas for this job; Dallas pays the most ($35,950).
- Dallas$35,950
- Houston$34,100
- Austin$34,080
- El Paso$34,020
- San Antonio$32,720
- McAllen$28,710
All Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salaries in Texas
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 McAllen: questions
How much do food cooking machine operators and tenders make an hour in McAllen?
$13.80 an hour on average, and $12.96 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food cooking machine operators and tenders salary in McAllen?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $20,770 a year and the 25th percentile is $21,510, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food cooking machine operators and tenders take-home pay in McAllen?
About $25,248 a year ($2,104 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $28,710. Texas has no state income tax.
Do food cooking machine operators and tenders earn more in McAllen than elsewhere?
The average here is 33% less 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 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX (32580). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.3%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.53, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.53).
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