Food processing equipment workers held about 257,500 jobs in 2021. Employment in the detailed occupations that make up food processing equipment workers was distributed as follows:
| Food batchmakers | 159,900 |
| Food processing workers, all other | 49,300 |
| Food cooking machine operators and tenders | 27,200 |
| Food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders | 21,100 |
The largest employers of food processing equipment workers were as follows:
| Food manufacturing | 73% |
| Employment services | 6 |
| Food and beverage stores | 5 |
Food manufacturing facilities are typically large, open-floor areas with loud machinery. When operating cooking equipment, workers are frequently exposed to high temperatures. When working with goods that need to be refrigerated or frozen, they may be exposed to cold temperatures for long periods.
Depending on the type of food being processed, workers may be required to wear ear protection to guard against hearing loss in noisy facilities. They also may wear masks, hairnets, or gloves to prevent product contamination.
Workers usually stand during their shifts while tending machines or observing the production process. Loading, unloading, or cleaning equipment may require lifting, bending, and reaching.
Injuries and Illnesses
Food processing workers, all other, have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations. ("All other" titles represent occupations with a wide range of characteristics that do not fit into any of the other detailed occupations.) Working around hot liquids or machinery that cuts or presses can be dangerous. Common injuries include cuts or result from slips and falls.. To reduce the risks of injuries, workers are required to wear protective clothing and nonslip shoes.
Work Schedules
Most food processing equipment workers are employed full time; part-time work may be common for food cooking machine operators and tenders. Because of production schedules, shift work is common and may include early mornings, evenings, or nights.
Some food processing positions are seasonal.
Education requirements vary for food processing equipment workers. Some typically need no formal education credential; however, others typically need a high school diploma or equivalent. Food processing equipment workers usually learn their skills through on-the-job training.
Education
Employers may require or prefer that applicants to food processing equipment jobs have a high school diploma or equivalent.
Because these workers often adjust the quantity of ingredients that go into a mix, math and reading skills are helpful.
Training
Food processing equipment workers learn on the job. Training may last from a few weeks to a few months. During training, workers learn health and safety rules related to the type of food that they process, as well as how to operate specific equipment and detect malfunctions.
Experienced workers typically teach trainees how to properly use and care for equipment.
Food and tobacco processing workers typically have an interest in the Building and Organizing interest areas, according to the Holland Code framework. The Building interest area indicates a focus on working with tools and machines, and making or fixing practical things. The Organizing interest area indicates a focus on working with information and processes to keep things arranged in orderly systems.
If you are not sure whether you have a Building or Organizing interest which might fit with a career as a food and tobacco processing worker, you can take a career test to measure your interests.
Food and tobacco processing workers should also possess the following specific qualities:
Concentration. Workers must pay close attention to what they are doing to avoid injury.
Coordination. Food and tobacco processing workers must be quick and have good hand-eye coordination to keep up with the assembly line.
Detail oriented. Workers must be able to detect small changes in quality or quantity of food products. They must also closely follow health and safety standards to avoid any food contamination.
Physical stamina. Workers stand on their feet for long periods as they tend machines and monitor the production process.
Physical strength. Food and tobacco processing workers should be strong enough to lift or move heavy boxes of fruit or vegetables, which often can weigh up to 50 pounds.
The median annual wage for food processing equipment workers was $35,430 in May 2021. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $23,790, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $47,700.
Median annual wages for food processing equipment workers in May 2021 were as follows:
| Food cooking machine operators and tenders | $35,890 |
| Food batchmakers | 35,780 |
| Food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders | 35,480 |
| Food processing workers, all other | 31,890 |
In May 2021, the median annual wages for food processing equipment workers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| Food manufacturing | $36,260 |
| Food and beverage stores | 30,140 |
| Employment services | 29,560 |
Most food processing equipment workers are employed full time; part-time work may be common for food cooking machine operators and tenders. Because of production schedules, shift work is common and may include early mornings, evenings, or nights.
Some food processing positions are seasonal.
Overall employment of food processing equipment workers is projected to grow 4 percent from 2021 to 2031, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
About 36,700 openings for food processing equipment workers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment
Projected employment of food processing equipment workers varies by occupation (see table). Population growth and continuing consumer preference for convenience foods are expected to drive the demand for food, which will in turn require more food processing workers to produce it. However, food manufacturing companies continue to pursue more automation in processing to raise productivity. For example, they use equipment that automatically weighs and mixes ingredients, requiring fewer processing workers. As these companies streamline production processes and implement more automation, they will need fewer workers to operate machines, which may constrain employment growth.
For more information about food processing equipment workers, visit
Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco Workers, and Grain Millers International (BCTGM)
International Brotherhood of Teamsters
The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union