Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders
Also called: Food Roasting and Drying Machine Operators
Operate or tend food or tobacco roasting, baking, or drying equipment, including hearth ovens, kiln driers, roasters, char kilns, and vacuum drying equipment.
Also called: Automatic Oven Operator, Bakery Production Associate, Bakery Production Worker, Bakery Worker, Baking Assistant, Bean Roaster
Median pay
$44,810
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$33,250 – $62,680
People employed
20,370
Holland code
RCE
Realistic · Conventional · Enterprising
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you OK being on your feet and moving most of the day?
- 2.Are you comfortable following clear instructions?
- 3.Would you rather not deal with customers or the public?
- 4.Are you happy working mostly on your own, with little contact with others?
- 5.Do you prefer working indoors?
- 6.Do you prefer doing your own work rather than directing others?
The hard parts
- Long hours on your feet
- Tight deadlines are common
- Mistakes can have serious consequences
Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders pay by state
Annual median pay by state (44 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders salary in every state →
What food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders do
- 01Observe, feel, taste, or otherwise examine products during and after processing to ensure conformance to standards.
- 02Take product samples during or after processing for laboratory analyses.
- 03Set temperature and time controls, light ovens, burners, driers, or roasters, and start equipment, such as conveyors, cylinders, blowers, driers, or pumps.
- 04Observe temperature, humidity, pressure gauges, and product samples and adjust controls, such as thermostats and valves, to maintain prescribed operating conditions for specific stages.
- 05Observe flow of materials and listen for machine malfunctions, such as jamming or spillage, and notify supervisors if corrective actions fail.
- 06Test products for moisture content, using moisture meters.
Skills that matter most
- Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Writing
Knowledge
- Production and Processing
- English Language
- Public Safety and Security
- Food Production
- Mathematics
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a high school diploma (O*NET Job Zone 2).
- Related work experience: none.
- On-the-job training: over 3 months, up to and including 6 months.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders
- Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders88% · +15%
- Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders86% · −3%
- Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders85% · +7%
- Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders84% · −8%
- Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders84% · +8%
Change into food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders87% · $41,330
- Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders83% · $43,530
- Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders83% · $51,610
- Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders82% · $48,040
- Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products82% · $35,730