Salary guide, May 2025
Food Process Operator pay by metro, ranked
Manufacturing Headhunters uses the published BLS OEWS figures below. They describe the mapped occupation and area, not an individual offer.
This is what we do all day: recruit manufacturing professionals.
Of 393 metros, BLS published an exact annual median for 150. The highest is Rochester, MN at $62,330 and the lowest is Valdosta, GA at $28,550. 0 more are published but not rankable and 243 are not published by bls.
Broader occupation · SOC 51-3099 Food Processing Workers, All Other
The Food Process Operator title maps to the published occupation. BLS does not separate this process, credential, shift or plant-specific title from other work in the occupation.
- Rochester, MN$62,330
- Hanford-Corcoran, CA$53,420
- Lancaster, PA$51,490
- Longview-Kelso, WA$50,500
- Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA$50,310
- Boulder, CO$48,850
- Raleigh-Cary, NC$48,600
- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$47,800
- Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO$47,750
- Chattanooga, TN-GA$47,320
- Reno, NV$47,020
- Sioux City, IA-NE-SD$46,350
- Morristown, TN$46,320
- Greeley, CO$46,240
- Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ$45,330
- St. Joseph, MO-KS$45,200
- Yakima, WA$44,990
- Fort Collins-Loveland, CO$44,960
- Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH$44,760
- Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN$44,610
- Albany, GA$44,390
- Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$44,310
- Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT$44,240
- Colorado Springs, CO$43,930
- Canton-Massillon, OH$43,790
Bars show the top 25 of 150 ranked. The table below lists all 150. Literal BLS medians, May 2025.
| Rank | Metro | BLS occupation | 25th | Median | 75th | Employment | LQ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rochester, MN | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $54,190 | $62,330 | $62,330 | 60 | 1.26 |
| 2 | Hanford-Corcoran, CA | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $37,760 | $53,420 | $66,630 | 120 | 6.08 |
| 3 | Lancaster, PA | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $40,820 | $51,490 | $64,090 | 190 | 1.79 |
| 4 | Longview-Kelso, WA | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $36,940 | $50,500 | $50,500 | 50 | 3.12 |
| 5 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $41,290 | $50,310 | $64,390 | 90 | 0.67 |
| 6 | Boulder, CO | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $39,510 | $48,850 | $51,530 | 60 | 0.76 |
| 7 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $38,610 | $48,600 | $48,600 | 470 | 1.5 |
| 8 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $45,220 | $47,800 | $48,880 | 110 | 0.12 |
| 9 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $44,580 | $47,750 | $50,480 | 240 | 0.35 |
| 10 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $39,330 | $47,320 | $47,320 | 340 | 3.03 |
| 11 | Reno, NV | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $46,640 | $47,020 | $47,020 | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS |
| 12 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $41,740 | $46,350 | $46,400 | 1,710 | 54.67 |
| 13 | Morristown, TN | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $43,250 | $46,320 | $46,320 | 380 | 19.23 |
| 14 | Greeley, CO | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $46,240 | $46,240 | $47,160 | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS |
| 15 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $40,840 | $45,330 | $45,330 | 500 | 0.51 |
| 16 | St. Joseph, MO-KS | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $37,800 | $45,200 | $45,200 | 100 | 4.37 |
| 17 | Yakima, WA | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $44,990 | $44,990 | $44,990 | 140 | 3.52 |
| 18 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $42,640 | $44,960 | $45,520 | 30 | 0.49 |
| 19 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $40,790 | $44,760 | $45,210 | 190 | 1.24 |
| 20 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $41,820 | $44,610 | $44,610 | 70 | 0.24 |
| 21 | Albany, GA | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $44,390 | $44,390 | $44,390 | 130 | 5.19 |
| 22 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $41,010 | $44,310 | $48,930 | 170 | 0.15 |
| 23 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $41,400 | $44,240 | $44,240 | 100 | 0.76 |
| 24 | Colorado Springs, CO | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $40,120 | $43,930 | $48,470 | 80 | 0.59 |
| 25 | Canton-Massillon, OH | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $43,100 | $43,790 | $48,450 | 80 | 1.21 |
| 26 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $40,030 | $43,700 | $53,390 | 300 | 0.37 |
| 27 | Ames, IA | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $43,520 | $43,520 | $43,520 | 50 | 2.01 |
| 28 | Jacksonville, FL | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $41,720 | $43,430 | $49,790 | 90 | 0.27 |
| 29 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $43,200 | $43,200 | $44,780 | 420 | 0.89 |
| 30 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $38,460 | $43,160 | $47,190 | 230 | 5.67 |
| 31 | Jackson, TN | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $37,710 | $43,150 | $50,960 | 120 | 3.27 |
| 32 | Logan, UT-ID | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $43,010 | $43,010 | $53,350 | 140 | 4.93 |
| 33 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $42,490 | $42,960 | $43,070 | 130 | 0.77 |
| 34 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $39,660 | $42,840 | $48,580 | 1,150 | 0.61 |
| 35 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $40,720 | $42,840 | $45,460 | 150 | 0.32 |
| 36 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $39,260 | $42,730 | $46,900 | 360 | 0.67 |
| 37 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $39,320 | $42,600 | $52,780 | 70 | 0.46 |
| 38 | Omaha, NE-IA | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $42,320 | $42,600 | $43,980 | 900 | 4.33 |
| 39 | Kansas City, MO-KS | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $38,910 | $42,530 | $49,290 | 120 | 0.26 |
| 40 | Merced, CA | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $36,730 | $42,430 | $55,590 | 60 | 1.69 |
| 41 | Visalia, CA | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $35,700 | $42,250 | $60,770 | 80 | 1.05 |
| 42 | Jackson, MS | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $33,540 | $41,870 | $42,520 | 210 | 1.89 |
| 43 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $38,380 | $41,740 | $50,430 | 260 | 0.22 |
| 44 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $33,900 | $41,480 | $50,820 | 50 | 0.95 |
| 45 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $36,520 | $41,340 | $43,940 | 40 | 0.81 |
| 46 | Cedar Rapids, IA | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $41,070 | $41,070 | $46,250 | 70 | 1.24 |
| 47 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $35,230 | $41,020 | $45,040 | 40 | 0.18 |
| 48 | Ogden, UT | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $32,470 | $40,990 | $52,990 | 60 | 0.55 |
| 49 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $35,020 | $40,910 | $45,930 | 50 | 0.46 |
| 50 | St. Louis, MO-IL | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $39,510 | $40,740 | $44,860 | 310 | 0.55 |
| 51 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $38,200 | $40,590 | $42,880 | 80 | 0.18 |
| 52 | Killeen-Temple, TX | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $38,410 | $40,590 | $44,580 | 70 | 1.13 |
| 53 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $35,770 | $40,530 | $43,720 | 560 | 0.78 |
| 54 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $36,510 | $40,460 | $44,450 | 480 | 0.39 |
| 55 | Gettysburg, PA | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $36,990 | $40,130 | $44,830 | 30 | 2.25 |
| 56 | Columbus, OH | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $36,470 | $39,890 | $41,460 | 100 | 0.21 |
| 57 | Burlington, NC | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $39,800 | $39,800 | $45,890 | 50 | 1.87 |
| 58 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $38,720 | $39,800 | $48,340 | 30 | 0.33 |
| 59 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $38,490 | $39,770 | $43,900 | 760 | 0.77 |
| 60 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $37,490 | $39,740 | $42,020 | 140 | 0.18 |
| 61 | Rochester, NY | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $39,720 | $39,720 | $41,400 | 90 | 0.46 |
| 62 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $37,660 | $39,670 | $49,610 | 120 | 0.2 |
| 63 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $37,030 | $39,640 | $45,390 | 350 | 0.27 |
| 64 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $37,470 | $39,430 | $44,600 | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS |
| 65 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $37,410 | $39,420 | $42,030 | 50 | 0.14 |
| 66 | Cleveland, TN | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $33,310 | $39,380 | $44,470 | 100 | 5.55 |
| 67 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $38,430 | $39,290 | $46,140 | 120 | 0.2 |
| 68 | Pittsburgh, PA | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $37,650 | $39,290 | $43,490 | 100 | 0.22 |
| 69 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $37,610 | $39,260 | $46,630 | 60 | 0.39 |
| 70 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $37,720 | $39,250 | $49,440 | 50 | 1.15 |
| 71 | Reading, PA | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $37,580 | $39,230 | $46,300 | 40 | 0.5 |
| 72 | Columbus, GA-AL | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $33,770 | $39,190 | $42,370 | 50 | 0.96 |
| 73 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $34,010 | $39,150 | $39,150 | 70 | 1.13 |
| 74 | Modesto, CA | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $36,620 | $39,040 | $51,160 | 380 | 4.68 |
| 75 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $37,440 | $38,870 | $44,080 | 50 | 0.74 |
| 76 | Knoxville, TN | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $37,240 | $38,860 | $45,110 | 70 | 0.42 |
| 77 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $37,020 | $38,850 | $43,660 | 460 | 0.81 |
| 78 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $38,540 | $38,730 | $39,770 | 60 | 0.25 |
| 79 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $36,560 | $38,560 | $40,800 | 70 | 0.41 |
| 80 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $37,460 | $38,550 | $41,950 | 180 | 0.56 |
| 81 | Vallejo, CA | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $38,530 | $38,530 | $38,530 | 210 | 3.5 |
| 82 | New Haven, CT | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $37,920 | $38,500 | $39,890 | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS |
| 83 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $37,290 | $38,490 | $44,430 | 150 | 0.23 |
| 84 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $37,700 | $38,480 | $42,490 | 240 | 2.45 |
| 85 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $38,020 | $38,460 | $45,870 | 430 | 3.74 |
| 86 | Richmond, VA | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $36,010 | $38,240 | $41,160 | 100 | 0.35 |
| 87 | Cleveland, OH | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $38,210 | $38,210 | $38,220 | 590 | 1.38 |
| 88 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $37,930 | $38,170 | $52,210 | 290 | 1.15 |
| 89 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $34,500 | $38,100 | $44,330 | 1,030 | 0.75 |
| 90 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $34,370 | $38,090 | $44,780 | 510 | 1.08 |
| 91 | Corpus Christi, TX | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $36,230 | $38,080 | $43,270 | 60 | 0.79 |
| 92 | Harrisonburg, VA | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $37,810 | $37,960 | $38,790 | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS |
| 93 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $34,800 | $37,910 | $43,600 | 960 | 0.57 |
| 94 | Lebanon, PA | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $37,750 | $37,830 | $45,760 | 90 | 4.08 |
| 95 | Rockford, IL | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $31,200 | $37,800 | $38,300 | 30 | 0.54 |
| 96 | Tulsa, OK | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $36,970 | $37,760 | $38,830 | 50 | 0.24 |
| 97 | Wichita, KS | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $37,460 | $37,620 | $41,890 | 40 | 0.33 |
| 98 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $34,670 | $37,550 | $39,610 | 50 | 0.38 |
| 99 | Oklahoma City, OK | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $34,350 | $37,550 | $38,030 | 70 | 0.26 |
| 100 | San Angelo, TX | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $37,380 | $37,550 | $44,400 | 30 | 1.61 |
| 101 | York-Hanover, PA | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $35,170 | $37,500 | $40,480 | 50 | 0.6 |
| 102 | Missoula, MT | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $33,870 | $37,450 | $42,730 | 30 | 1.2 |
| 103 | Albuquerque, NM | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $36,700 | $37,300 | $39,630 | 50 | 0.29 |
| 104 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $36,390 | $37,280 | $41,820 | 2,530 | 0.97 |
| 105 | Salinas, CA | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $37,200 | $37,250 | $37,250 | 260 | 3.37 |
| 106 | Waco, TX | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $25,830 | $37,100 | $40,460 | 130 | 2.35 |
| 107 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $37,060 | $37,060 | $37,660 | 100 | 0.53 |
| 108 | Lubbock, TX | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $33,840 | $36,980 | $40,320 | 40 | 0.61 |
| 109 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $30,720 | $36,660 | $44,580 | 1,920 | 1.59 |
| 110 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $34,640 | $36,660 | $37,220 | 270 | 1.75 |
| 111 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $36,600 | $36,640 | $41,540 | 370 | 0.74 |
| 112 | Hammond, LA | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $36,620 | $36,620 | $36,620 | 260 | 12.97 |
| 113 | College Station-Bryan, TX | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $36,590 | $36,590 | $41,230 | 70 | 1.19 |
| 114 | Wilmington, NC | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $35,570 | $36,470 | $37,550 | 40 | 0.55 |
| 115 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $34,780 | $36,420 | $42,240 | 100 | 0.82 |
| 116 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $35,300 | $36,410 | $36,410 | 190 | 1.4 |
| 117 | Winston-Salem, NC | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $34,190 | $36,380 | $38,900 | 130 | 1.13 |
| 118 | Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $35,580 | $36,300 | $42,060 | 40 | 0.68 |
| 119 | Fayetteville, NC | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $36,290 | $36,290 | $36,290 | 120 | 2.13 |
| 120 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $36,290 | $36,290 | $38,220 | 30 | 0.7 |
| 121 | Tyler, TX | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $31,690 | $36,290 | $36,290 | 70 | 1.35 |
| 122 | Savannah, GA | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $27,100 | $36,220 | $40,070 | 40 | 0.5 |
| 123 | Fresno, CA | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $34,700 | $36,020 | $42,620 | 220 | 1.11 |
| 124 | Columbia, SC | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $35,190 | $35,980 | $36,920 | 100 | 0.59 |
| 125 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $35,700 | $35,710 | $37,190 | 320 | 0.7 |
| 126 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $28,030 | $35,690 | $38,350 | 160 | 1.28 |
| 127 | Gainesville, GA | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $35,660 | $35,670 | $37,480 | 990 | 22.84 |
| 128 | Portland-South Portland, ME | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $32,170 | $35,520 | $40,700 | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS |
| 129 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $35,380 | $35,380 | $37,940 | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS |
| 130 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $35,290 | $35,290 | $35,290 | 360 | 2.55 |
| 131 | El Centro, CA | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $35,240 | $35,240 | $43,420 | 40 | 1.32 |
| 132 | Abilene, TX | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $33,210 | $35,180 | $39,770 | 40 | 1.29 |
| 133 | Gadsden, AL | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $35,140 | $35,140 | $37,860 | 40 | 2.99 |
| 134 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $35,070 | $35,070 | $37,970 | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS |
| 135 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $31,200 | $34,860 | $37,630 | 560 | 0.99 |
| 136 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $33,320 | $34,790 | $45,250 | 800 | 0.2 |
| 137 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $31,200 | $34,770 | $39,430 | 220 | 0.72 |
| 138 | Longview, TX | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $30,860 | $34,240 | $37,930 | 40 | 0.83 |
| 139 | Monroe, LA | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $31,250 | $31,250 | $38,160 | 280 | 7.78 |
| 140 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $31,200 | $31,200 | $37,820 | 70 | 1.65 |
| 141 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $30,830 | $31,160 | $35,900 | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS |
| 142 | El Paso, TX | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $28,180 | $30,680 | $37,440 | 120 | 0.85 |
| 143 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $27,960 | $30,430 | $41,610 | 620 | 3.3 |
| 144 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $29,590 | $29,720 | $36,690 | 480 | 1.01 |
| 145 | Baton Rouge, LA | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $28,520 | $29,660 | $37,240 | 170 | 1 |
| 146 | Lafayette, LA | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $28,360 | $29,570 | $36,960 | 270 | 3.63 |
| 147 | Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $26,680 | $29,260 | $40,050 | 30 | 0.98 |
| 148 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $28,650 | $29,140 | $30,080 | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS |
| 149 | Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $28,970 | $28,970 | $28,970 | 140 | 3.51 |
| 150 | Valdosta, GA | Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099) | $28,290 | $28,550 | $28,820 | 40 | 1.74 |
What should you know about not published by BLS?
Aguadilla, PR, Akron, OH, Albany, OR, Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY, Alexandria, LA, Altoona, PA, Amarillo, TX, Amherst Town-Northampton, MA, Anchorage, AK, Ann Arbor, MI, Anniston-Oxford, AL, Appleton, WI, Arecibo, PR, Asheville, NC, Athens-Clarke County, GA, Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ, Auburn-Opelika, AL, Bangor, ME, Barnstable Town, MA, Battle Creek, MI, Bay City, MI, Beckley, WV, Bellingham, WA, Bend, OR, Billings, MT, Binghamton, NY, Birmingham, AL, Bismarck, ND, Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA, Bloomington, IL, Bloomington, IN, Boise City, ID, Bowling Green, KY, Bozeman, MT, Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA, Brownsville-Harlingen, TX, Brunswick-St. Simons, GA, Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL, Cape Girardeau, MO-IL, Carson City, NV, Casper, WY, Chambersburg, PA, Charleston, WV, Charlottesville, VA, Cheyenne, WY, Chico, CA, Clarksville, TN-KY, Coeur d'Alene, ID, Columbia, MO, Columbus, IN, Corvallis, OR, Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL, Dalton, GA, Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL, Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL, Decatur, AL, Decatur, IL, Dothan, AL, Dover, DE, Dubuque, IA, Duluth, MN-WI, Eagle Pass, TX, Eau Claire, WI, Elizabethtown, KY, Elkhart-Goshen, IN, Elmira, NY, Enid, OK, Erie, PA, Eugene-Springfield, OR, Evansville, IN, Fairbanks-College, AK, Fargo, ND-MN, Farmington, NM, Flagstaff, AZ, Flint, MI, Florence, SC, Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL, Fond du Lac, WI, Fort Wayne, IN, Gainesville, FL, Glens Falls, NY, Goldsboro, NC, Grand Forks, ND-MN, Grand Island, NE, Grand Junction, CO, Grants Pass, OR, Great Falls, MT, Green Bay, WI, Greenville, NC, Guayama, PR, Gulfport-Biloxi, MS, Hattiesburg, MS, Helena, MT, Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC, Hinesville, GA, Homosassa Springs, FL, Hot Springs, AR, Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Huntsville, AL, Idaho Falls, ID, Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN, Iowa City, IA, Ithaca, NY, Jackson, MI, Jacksonville, NC, Janesville-Beloit, WI, Jefferson City, MO, Johnson City, TN, Johnstown, PA, Jonesboro, AR, Joplin, MO-KS, Kahului-Wailuku, HI, Kalamazoo-Portage, MI, Kankakee, IL, Kenosha, WI, Kingston, NY, Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY, Kokomo, IN, La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN, Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN, Lake Charles, LA, Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ, Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL, Lansing-East Lansing, MI, Laredo, TX, Las Cruces, NM, Lawrence, KS, Lawton, OK, Lewiston, ID-WA, Lewiston-Auburn, ME, Lexington-Fayette, KY, Lexington Park, MD, Lima, OH, Lincoln, NE, Lynchburg, VA, Macon-Bibb County, GA, Madison, WI, Manchester-Nashua, NH, distribution management software, KS, Mankato, MN, Mansfield, OH, Mayaguez, PR, Medford, OR, Michigan City-La Porte, IN, Midland, MI, Midland, TX, Minot, ND, Mobile, AL, Monroe, MI, Montgomery, AL, Morgantown, WV, Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA, Muncie, IN, Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI, Napa, CA, Naples-Marco Island, FL, Niles, MI, North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL, Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT, Ocala, FL, Odessa, TX, Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA, Oshkosh-Neenah, WI, Owensboro, KY, Paducah, KY-IL, Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL, Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL, Parkersburg-Vienna, WV, Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL, Peoria, IL, Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC, Pittsfield, MA, Pocatello, ID, Ponce, PR, Port St. Lucie, FL, Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ, Pueblo, CO, Punta Gorda, FL, Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI, Rapid City, SD, Redding, CA, Roanoke, VA, Rocky Mount, NC, Rome, GA, Saginaw, MI, St. Cloud, MN, St. George, UT, Salem, OR, Salisbury, MD, Sandusky, OH, San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA, Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA, Santa Fe, NM, Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA, Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA, Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL, Sebring, FL, Sheboygan, WI, Sherman-Denison, TX, Shreveport-Bossier City, LA, Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ, Sioux Falls, SD-MN, South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI, Spartanburg, SC, Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA, Springfield, IL, Springfield, MA, Springfield, MO, Springfield, OH, State College, PA, Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA, Sumter, SC, Syracuse, NY, Tallahassee, FL, Terre Haute, IN, Texarkana, TX-AR, Toledo, OH, Topeka, KS, Traverse City, MI, Trenton-Princeton, NJ, Tucson, AZ, Tuscaloosa, AL, Twin Falls, ID, Urban Honolulu, HI, Utica-Rome, NY, Victoria, TX, Vineland, NJ, Walla Walla, WA, Warner Robins, GA, Waterbury-Shelton, CT, Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA, Watertown-Fort Drum, NY, Wausau, WI, Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH, Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA, Wheeling, WV-OH, Wichita Falls, TX, Wildwood-The Villages, FL, Williamsport, PA, Winchester, VA-WV, Worcester, MA, Yuba City, CA, Yuma, AZ.
What should you know about role pay against all occupations, by metro?
Ratio = this role's published median divided by the all-occupations median in the same metro, same units, both exact. A ratio above 1.00 means the role's median is higher than the metro's all-occupations median. It makes no cost-of-living claim. Location quotient (LQ) is employment concentration, not a wage index.
- Hanford-Corcoran, CA1.10
- Fort Smith, AR-OK1.09
- Lancaster, PA1.07
- Morristown, TN1.05
- Rochester, MN1.03
- Albany, GA1.02
- Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA1.01
- Chattanooga, TN-GA1.01
- McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX1.00
- San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR0.99
- Sioux City, IA-NE-SD0.99
- Cleveland, TN0.98
- Jackson, MS0.98
- Jackson, TN0.96
- Gadsden, AL0.96
- Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC0.96
- Canton-Massillon, OH0.96
- St. Joseph, MO-KS0.95
- Hammond, LA0.95
- Reno, NV0.95
- Yakima, WA0.94
- Visalia, CA0.94
- Raleigh-Cary, NC0.93
- Logan, UT-ID0.93
- Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN0.92
Bars show the highest 25 of 150. The table lists all.
| Metro | Role median | All-occupations median | Ratio | LQ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $53,420 | $48,470 | 1.10 | 6.08 |
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | $43,160 | $39,560 | 1.09 | 5.67 |
| Lancaster, PA | $51,490 | $48,210 | 1.07 | 1.79 |
| Morristown, TN | $46,320 | $44,280 | 1.05 | 19.23 |
| Rochester, MN | $62,330 | $60,620 | 1.03 | 1.26 |
| Albany, GA | $44,390 | $43,620 | 1.02 | 5.19 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $50,310 | $49,610 | 1.01 | 0.67 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $47,320 | $46,700 | 1.01 | 3.03 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $35,690 | $35,830 | 1.00 | 1.28 |
| San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $29,140 | $29,440 | 0.99 | Not published by BLS |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $46,350 | $47,030 | 0.99 | 54.67 |
| Cleveland, TN | $39,380 | $40,230 | 0.98 | 5.55 |
| Jackson, MS | $41,870 | $42,850 | 0.98 | 1.89 |
| Jackson, TN | $43,150 | $44,790 | 0.96 | 3.27 |
| Gadsden, AL | $35,140 | $36,660 | 0.96 | 2.99 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $36,300 | $37,930 | 0.96 | 0.68 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | $43,790 | $45,810 | 0.96 | 1.21 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | $45,200 | $47,350 | 0.95 | 4.37 |
| Hammond, LA | $36,620 | $38,480 | 0.95 | 12.97 |
| Reno, NV | $47,020 | $49,660 | 0.95 | Not published by BLS |
| Yakima, WA | $44,990 | $47,810 | 0.94 | 3.52 |
| Visalia, CA | $42,250 | $45,130 | 0.94 | 1.05 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $48,600 | $51,990 | 0.93 | 1.5 |
| Logan, UT-ID | $43,010 | $46,360 | 0.93 | 4.93 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $44,610 | $48,370 | 0.92 | 0.24 |
| Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $44,240 | $48,010 | 0.92 | 0.76 |
| Burlington, NC | $39,800 | $44,010 | 0.90 | 1.87 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | $39,190 | $43,540 | 0.90 | 0.96 |
| Merced, CA | $42,430 | $47,220 | 0.90 | 1.69 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $44,760 | $49,980 | 0.90 | 1.24 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $43,430 | $48,830 | 0.89 | 0.27 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $39,800 | $44,940 | 0.89 | 0.33 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $40,910 | $46,330 | 0.88 | 0.46 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $45,330 | $51,380 | 0.88 | 0.51 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $50,500 | $57,420 | 0.88 | 3.12 |
| Lubbock, TX | $36,980 | $42,130 | 0.88 | 0.61 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | $40,590 | $46,660 | 0.87 | 1.13 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $42,600 | $48,990 | 0.87 | 0.46 |
| Ames, IA | $43,520 | $50,220 | 0.87 | 2.01 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $39,150 | $45,220 | 0.87 | 1.13 |
| San Angelo, TX | $37,550 | $43,530 | 0.86 | 1.61 |
| Gettysburg, PA | $40,130 | $46,610 | 0.86 | 2.25 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $41,740 | $48,640 | 0.86 | 0.22 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $42,600 | $49,660 | 0.86 | 4.33 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $39,260 | $45,790 | 0.86 | 0.39 |
| Tyler, TX | $36,290 | $42,650 | 0.85 | 1.35 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $42,840 | $50,390 | 0.85 | 0.32 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $39,290 | $46,630 | 0.84 | 0.2 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $38,080 | $45,350 | 0.84 | 0.79 |
| Greeley, CO | $46,240 | $55,070 | 0.84 | Not published by BLS |
| Ogden, UT | $40,990 | $48,900 | 0.84 | 0.55 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $40,530 | $48,400 | 0.84 | 0.78 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $42,530 | $50,820 | 0.84 | 0.26 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $38,480 | $45,990 | 0.84 | 2.45 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $43,930 | $52,710 | 0.83 | 0.59 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $41,070 | $49,360 | 0.83 | 1.24 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $42,960 | $51,820 | 0.83 | 0.77 |
| Knoxville, TN | $38,860 | $47,080 | 0.83 | 0.42 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $38,460 | $46,610 | 0.83 | 3.74 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $37,960 | $46,110 | 0.82 | Not published by BLS |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $36,590 | $44,470 | 0.82 | 1.19 |
| Monroe, LA | $31,250 | $38,150 | 0.82 | 7.78 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $40,740 | $49,990 | 0.81 | 0.55 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $38,730 | $47,570 | 0.81 | 0.25 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $38,170 | $46,890 | 0.81 | 1.15 |
| Lebanon, PA | $37,830 | $46,500 | 0.81 | 4.08 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $44,960 | $55,310 | 0.81 | 0.49 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $39,670 | $48,940 | 0.81 | 0.2 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $38,090 | $47,010 | 0.81 | 1.08 |
| Tulsa, OK | $37,760 | $46,670 | 0.81 | 0.24 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $40,590 | $50,170 | 0.81 | 0.18 |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | $35,380 | $43,800 | 0.81 | Not published by BLS |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $41,020 | $50,790 | 0.81 | 0.18 |
| Waco, TX | $37,100 | $46,020 | 0.81 | 2.35 |
| Rockford, IL | $37,800 | $47,120 | 0.80 | 0.54 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $36,290 | $45,240 | 0.80 | 0.7 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $38,870 | $48,630 | 0.80 | 0.74 |
| Wilmington, NC | $36,470 | $45,800 | 0.80 | 0.55 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $37,060 | $46,580 | 0.80 | 0.53 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $36,290 | $45,620 | 0.80 | 2.13 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $37,550 | $47,230 | 0.80 | 0.26 |
| Reading, PA | $39,230 | $49,440 | 0.79 | 0.5 |
| Abilene, TX | $35,180 | $44,340 | 0.79 | 1.29 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $39,290 | $49,650 | 0.79 | 0.22 |
| Wichita, KS | $37,620 | $47,630 | 0.79 | 0.33 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $36,660 | $46,570 | 0.79 | 1.75 |
| Salinas, CA | $37,250 | $47,380 | 0.79 | 3.37 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $38,560 | $49,150 | 0.78 | 0.41 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $36,380 | $46,380 | 0.78 | 1.13 |
| Missoula, MT | $37,450 | $47,830 | 0.78 | 1.2 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $42,840 | $54,720 | 0.78 | 0.61 |
| El Centro, CA | $35,240 | $45,140 | 0.78 | 1.32 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $38,550 | $49,430 | 0.78 | 0.56 |
| York-Hanover, PA | $37,500 | $48,170 | 0.78 | 0.6 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $38,850 | $49,990 | 0.78 | 0.81 |
| Gainesville, GA | $35,670 | $45,900 | 0.78 | 22.84 |
| Columbus, OH | $39,890 | $51,340 | 0.78 | 0.21 |
| El Paso, TX | $30,680 | $39,510 | 0.78 | 0.85 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $37,300 | $48,060 | 0.78 | 0.29 |
| Rochester, NY | $39,720 | $51,210 | 0.78 | 0.46 |
| Columbia, SC | $35,980 | $46,430 | 0.77 | 0.59 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $39,250 | $50,700 | 0.77 | 1.15 |
| Modesto, CA | $39,040 | $50,610 | 0.77 | 4.68 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $38,100 | $49,410 | 0.77 | 0.75 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $39,420 | $51,160 | 0.77 | 0.14 |
| Fresno, CA | $36,020 | $46,910 | 0.77 | 1.11 |
| Savannah, GA | $36,220 | $47,240 | 0.77 | 0.5 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $47,750 | $62,320 | 0.77 | 0.35 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $39,740 | $52,080 | 0.76 | 0.18 |
| Cleveland, OH | $38,210 | $50,140 | 0.76 | 1.38 |
| Longview, TX | $34,240 | $45,150 | 0.76 | 0.83 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $42,730 | $56,950 | 0.75 | 0.67 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $40,460 | $54,310 | 0.74 | 0.39 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $36,420 | $48,990 | 0.74 | 0.82 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $35,290 | $47,470 | 0.74 | 2.55 |
| Richmond, VA | $38,240 | $51,460 | 0.74 | 0.35 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $37,910 | $51,440 | 0.74 | 0.57 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $43,700 | $59,320 | 0.74 | 0.37 |
| Valdosta, GA | $28,550 | $39,110 | 0.73 | 1.74 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $41,340 | $57,290 | 0.72 | 0.81 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $36,660 | $51,170 | 0.72 | 1.59 |
| Lafayette, LA | $29,570 | $41,780 | 0.71 | 3.63 |
| Boulder, CO | $48,850 | $69,580 | 0.70 | 0.76 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $36,410 | $52,510 | 0.69 | 1.4 |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $41,480 | $60,020 | 0.69 | 0.95 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $37,280 | $55,850 | 0.67 | 0.97 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $44,310 | $66,620 | 0.67 | 0.15 |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $28,970 | $43,710 | 0.66 | 3.51 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $47,800 | $72,610 | 0.66 | 0.12 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $31,200 | $47,440 | 0.66 | 1.65 |
| Vallejo, CA | $38,530 | $58,620 | 0.66 | 3.5 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $38,490 | $58,690 | 0.66 | 0.23 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $34,770 | $53,680 | 0.65 | 0.72 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $30,430 | $47,290 | 0.64 | 3.3 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $29,260 | $45,610 | 0.64 | 0.98 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $39,430 | $61,470 | 0.64 | Not published by BLS |
| New Haven, CT | $38,500 | $60,060 | 0.64 | Not published by BLS |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $29,720 | $46,670 | 0.64 | 1.01 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | $35,520 | $56,960 | 0.62 | Not published by BLS |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $37,550 | $60,720 | 0.62 | 0.38 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $29,660 | $48,710 | 0.61 | 1 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $36,640 | $60,690 | 0.60 | 0.74 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $35,710 | $59,750 | 0.60 | 0.7 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $34,860 | $59,070 | 0.59 | 0.99 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $35,070 | $59,940 | 0.59 | Not published by BLS |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $34,790 | $61,430 | 0.57 | 0.2 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $31,160 | $55,240 | 0.56 | Not published by BLS |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $39,640 | $71,060 | 0.56 | 0.27 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $39,770 | $74,260 | 0.54 | 0.77 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $43,200 | $84,050 | 0.51 | 0.89 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 51-3099 Food Processing Workers, All Other, Rochester. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
How should you read Food Process Operator metro ranking?
Food Process Operator metro ranking: Food Process Operator, mapped to Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099), in Rochester, MN has a published annual median of $62,330 for 2025-05. This is an occupation estimate across employers, not a quoted starting rate for your opening. Read the occupation name with the amount.
A narrower plant title does not turn a broader BLS occupation into a separately measured job.
For the same Food Process Operator metro ranking: Food Process Operator, mapped to Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099), in Rochester, MN row, the published lower quartile is $54,190 and the upper quartile is $62,330. These are wage distribution points, not junior and senior job grades. A person’s equipment knowledge, shift requirements and actual duties still need a separate discussion. A missing percentile stays missing rather than being filled from another occupation.
The Food Process Operator metro ranking: Food Process Operator, mapped to Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099), in Rochester, MN employment estimate is 60. Employment describes people already working in the measured occupation and area. It does not count available applicants, people willing to move or candidates interested in your plant. Keep that distinction when using this Food Process Operator metro ranking to plan a search or discuss an offer with a hiring manager.
Food Process Operator metro ranking: Food Process Operator, mapped to Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099), in Knoxville, TN has a published annual median of $38,860 for 2025-05. This is an occupation estimate across employers, not a quoted starting rate for your opening. Read the occupation name with the amount. A narrower plant title does not turn a broader BLS occupation into a separately measured job.
For the same Food Process Operator metro ranking: Food Process Operator, mapped to Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099), in Knoxville, TN row, the published lower quartile is $37,240 and the upper quartile is $45,110. These are wage distribution points, not junior and senior job grades. A person’s equipment knowledge, shift requirements and actual duties still need a separate discussion. A missing percentile stays missing rather than being filled from another occupation.
The Food Process Operator metro ranking: Food Process Operator, mapped to Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099), in Knoxville, TN employment estimate is 70. Employment describes people already working in the measured occupation and area. It does not count available applicants, people willing to move or candidates interested in your plant. Keep that distinction when using this Food Process Operator metro ranking to plan a search or discuss an offer with a hiring manager.
Food Process Operator metro ranking: Food Process Operator, mapped to Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099), in Valdosta, GA has a published annual median of $28,550 for 2025-05. This is an occupation estimate across employers, not a quoted starting rate for your opening. Read the occupation name with the amount. A narrower plant title does not turn a broader BLS occupation into a separately measured job.
For the same Food Process Operator metro ranking: Food Process Operator, mapped to Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099), in Valdosta, GA row, the published lower quartile is $28,290 and the upper quartile is $28,820. These are wage distribution points, not junior and senior job grades. A person’s equipment knowledge, shift requirements and actual duties still need a separate discussion. A missing percentile stays missing rather than being filled from another occupation.
The Food Process Operator metro ranking: Food Process Operator, mapped to Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099), in Valdosta, GA employment estimate is 40. Employment describes people already working in the measured occupation and area. It does not count available applicants, people willing to move or candidates interested in your plant. Keep that distinction when using this Food Process Operator metro ranking to plan a search or discuss an offer with a hiring manager.
Which questions matter for Food Process Operator metro ranking?
Food Process Operator metro ranking: Food Process Operator, mapped to Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099), in Rochester, MN has a published annual median of $62,330 for 2025-05. This is an occupation estimate across employers, not a quoted starting rate for your opening.
Does Food Process Operator metro ranking give an exact offer for my plant?
Food Process Operator metro ranking: Food Process Operator, mapped to Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099), in Rochester, MN has a published annual median of $62,330 for 2025-05. This is an occupation estimate across employers, not a quoted starting rate for your opening. Read the occupation name with the amount. A narrower plant title does not turn a broader BLS occupation into a separately measured job.
What does the wage band in Food Process Operator metro ranking describe?
For the same Food Process Operator metro ranking: Food Process Operator, mapped to Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099), in Rochester, MN row, the published lower quartile is $54,190 and the upper quartile is $62,330. These are wage distribution points, not junior and senior job grades. A person’s equipment knowledge, shift requirements and actual duties still need a separate discussion. A missing percentile stays missing rather than being filled from another occupation.
Does the employment figure in Food Process Operator metro ranking measure available candidates?
The Food Process Operator metro ranking: Food Process Operator, mapped to Food Processing Workers, All Other (51-3099), in Rochester, MN employment estimate is 60. Employment describes people already working in the measured occupation and area. It does not count available applicants, people willing to move or candidates interested in your plant. Keep that distinction when using this Food Process Operator metro ranking to plan a search or discuss an offer with a hiring manager.
Food Process Operator source figures · Food Process Operator source figures · Food Process Operator source figures · Methodology
What does this ranking mean for your opening?
The wage rankings for food process operators are often misleading because they encompass everything from simple packaging to complex thermal processing and retorting. Managers should not assume the median wage in their metro is an accurate price tag for someone who must monitor safety-critical thermal parameters.
Recruiter's read. Qualitative interpretation, not another BLS estimate.
The wage rankings for food process operators are often misleading because they encompass everything from simple packaging to complex thermal processing and retorting. Managers should not assume the median wage in their metro is an accurate price tag for someone who must monitor safety-critical thermal parameters. For Food Process Operator in the United States, percentiles describe the wage distribution of the mapped occupation. The published middle interval is $36,410 to $44,130 annually. They do not assign pay to plant size, seniority, credentials or job complexity. Assess duties and candidate requirements separately; these rows do not measure a premium for them.
When you plan a search, your budget must be based on the required knowledge of food safety and record-keeping protocols. An operator who can manage a deviation and properly log it is a safeguard for your entire business. For Food Process Operator in the United States, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $39,680; the May 2024 median is $38,420. Their arithmetic difference is $1,260. They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause.
Candidates for these roles often have specific requirements for environments, such as cold or hot zones, and shift patterns. These factors frequently carry more weight than a baseline median wage. Before you make an offer, ensure your compensation reflects the reality of the work environment; a few dollars above the median are rarely enough to convince an operator to take on a more difficult production task.
Avoid assuming that skills from unrelated food manufacturing environments transfer perfectly to yours. If you are operating under specific regulatory regimes like low-acid canned food standards, your talent pool is much smaller than the broad job categories suggest. Focus on the candidate’s ability to follow process-critical instructions rather than just their historical wage levels, which may not align with your technical demands.
What should you know about questions before using this pay map?
Is the median wage a reliable target for a retort operator?
No, retort and other safety-critical roles require specialized training that justifies pay above the generic median.
Are operators from the beverage industry a good fit?
Sometimes, but check for specific thermal experience. Beverage and food roles often have different process limits.
How should I plan for allergen-control requirements?
Factor in the cost of attracting operators with a documented track record of maintaining rigorous allergen changeover procedures.
Does a low metro median mean hiring will be easy?
No, hiring is always driven by the candidate’s skill set match and the actual requirements of your specific thermal processes.