Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders
SOC Code: 51-3093 Job Zone 2: Some Preparation Needed
Operate or tend cooking equipment, such as steam cooking vats, deep fry cookers, pressure cookers, kettles, and boilers, to prepare food products.
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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modesto, CA | $42,058 | $53,685 | $65,312 | $76,939 |
| Bay City, MI | $43,618 | $50,939 | $58,282 | $65,603 |
| Midland, MI | $43,618 | $50,939 | $58,282 | $65,603 |
| Saginaw, MI | $40,976 | $48,485 | $56,014 | $63,523 |
| Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $41,371 | $48,672 | $55,973 | $63,274 |
| Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $43,576 | $50,024 | $56,472 | $62,920 |
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | $39,541 | $46,966 | $54,371 | $61,797 |
| Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $38,480 | $46,238 | $54,018 | $61,776 |
| Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $38,480 | $46,238 | $54,018 | $61,776 |
| Binghamton, NY | $37,170 | $44,075 | $51,002 | $57,907 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Operations Monitoring | 3.5 | |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.1 | |
| Monitoring | 3.1 | |
| Operation and Control | 3.1 | |
| Critical Thinking | 3.0 | |
| Active Listening | 3.0 | |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.9 | |
| Coordination | 2.9 | |
| Quality Control Analysis | 2.8 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.8 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| Production and Processing | 4.3 |
| Food Production | 3.8 |
| Administration and Management | 3.3 |
| Education and Training | 3.1 |
| Mechanical | 3.1 |
| English Language | 2.8 |
| Computers and Electronics | 2.6 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 2.6 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma | 85.9% |
| Some college | 14.0% |
Typical Tasks
- Record production and test data, such as processing steps, temperature and steam readings, cooking time, batches processed, and test results.
- Listen for malfunction alarms, and shut down equipment and notify supervisors when necessary.
- Collect and examine product samples during production to test them for quality, color, content, consistency, viscosity, acidity, or specific gravity.
- Observe gauges, dials, and product characteristics, and adjust controls to maintain appropriate temperature, pressure, and flow of ingredients.
- Read work orders, recipes, or formulas to determine cooking times and temperatures, and ingredient specifications.
- Clean, wash, and sterilize equipment and cooking area, using water hoses, cleaning or sterilizing solutions, or rinses.
- Set temperature, pressure, and time controls, and start conveyers, machines, or pumps.
- Tend or operate and control equipment, such as kettles, cookers, vats and tanks, and boilers, to cook ingredients or prepare products for further processing.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
Database software
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