Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders fall under the Production category in the U.S. occupational classification. Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders earn a median salary of $44,810 per year, ranking in the top 81% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +0.4% job growth through 2035, projected to grow slower than the US average. Entry into this field typically requires an apprenticeship, technical certification, or postsecondary training, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders earn?

The median annual wage for food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders is $44,810. That puts food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders at #666 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is around or below the U.S. median for individual workers, so career growth often depends on advancement into supervisory roles, specialization, or additional credentials. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Is food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders is +0.4%, projected to grow slower than the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 21K positions in 2024 to 21K in 2034, a net change of <1K. Flat growth typically reflects a mature, stable field. Most openings will come from retirements rather than new positions, which can favor candidates with strong networks and willingness to relocate.

What do food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

1. 1.Observe flow of materials and listen for machine malfunctions, such as jamming or spillage, and notify supervisors if corrective actions fail.
2. 2.Set temperature and time controls, light ovens, burners, driers, or roasters, and start equipment, such as conveyors, cylinders, blowers, driers, or pumps.
3. 3.Weigh or measure products, using scale hoppers or scale conveyors.
4. 4.Fill or remove product from trays, carts, hoppers, or equipment, using scoops, peels, or shovels, or by hand.
5. 5.Observe, feel, taste, or otherwise examine products during and after processing to ensure conformance to standards.
6. 6.Observe temperature, humidity, pressure gauges, and product samples and adjust controls, such as thermostats and valves, to maintain prescribed operating conditions for specific stages.
7. 7.Operate or tend equipment that roasts, bakes, dries, or cures food items such as cocoa and coffee beans, grains, nuts, and bakery products.
8. 8.Read work orders to determine quantities and types of products to be baked, dried, or roasted.

Top skills for food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

What education does my child need to become food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tender?

Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders typically enter the field through a formal apprenticeship, technical certification, or vocational training program — a strong fit for teens who prefer hands-on learning over traditional college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

Related careers your child might also consider

• Furniture Finishers
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• Woodworkers, All Other
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• Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
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• Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
  $43,960 median
• Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders
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• Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing
  $43,380 median

Common questions parents ask about food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders