Food Batchmakers Career, Salary and Skills
Food Batchmakers have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $42,290 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 174,520. Wage data is published for 287 locations.
Occupation description
Set up and operate equipment that mixes or blends ingredients used in the manufacturing of food products. Includes candy makers and cheese makers.
O*NET code
51-3092.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months
National salary and employment
Median annual
$42,290
Hourly median
$20.33
Employment
174,520
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Operations Monitoring | 3.25 | 3.00 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.12 | 2.88 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Active Listening | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Speaking | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Operation and Control | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Coordination | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Monitoring | 2.88 | 3.00 |
| Writing | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.88 | 2.62 |
Typical tasks
- Clean and sterilize vats and factory processing areas.
- Set up, operate, and tend equipment that cooks, mixes, blends, or processes ingredients in the manufacturing of food products, according to formulas or recipes.
- Mix or blend ingredients, according to recipes, using a paddle or an agitator, or by controlling vats that heat and mix ingredients.
- Follow recipes to produce food products of specified flavor, texture, clarity, bouquet, or color.
- Give directions to other workers who are assisting in the batchmaking process.
- Select and measure or weigh ingredients, using English or metric measures and balance scales.
- Press switches and turn knobs to start, adjust, and regulate equipment, such as beaters, extruders, discharge pipes, and salt pumps.
- Record production and test data for each food product batch, such as the ingredients used, temperature, test results, and time cycle.
Technology
- Edible Software
- Microsoft Office software
- Plex Systems Plex Manufacturing Cloud
Food Batchmakers salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Food Batchmakers Salary in WIMedian $48,360 · Employment 18,040
- Food Batchmakers Salary in TXMedian $37,500 · Employment 13,250
- Food Batchmakers Salary in CAMedian $41,670 · Employment 12,560
- Food Batchmakers Salary in ILMedian $48,130 · Employment 12,320
- Food Batchmakers Salary in Chicago, ILMedian $47,660 · Employment 8,490
- Food Batchmakers Salary in NYMedian $38,470 · Employment 8,460
- Food Batchmakers Salary in PAMedian $39,920 · Employment 8,160
- Food Batchmakers Salary in MNMedian $42,940 · Employment 7,660
- Food Batchmakers Salary in OHMedian $44,590 · Employment 7,040
- Food Batchmakers Salary in New York, NYMedian $38,790 · Employment 6,860
- Food Batchmakers Salary in WAMedian $42,710 · Employment 5,700
- Food Batchmakers Salary in INMedian $39,700 · Employment 5,570
Related careers
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- Food Science TechniciansNational median $52,130
- Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and TendersNational median $46,460
- Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticNational median $50,140
- Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and TendersNational median $38,180
- Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersNational median $46,570
- Machine Feeders and OffbearersNational median $41,220
- Packers and Packagers, HandNational median $36,280
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.