Food Batchmakers
Set up and operate equipment that mixes or blends ingredients used in the manufacturing of food products. Includes candy makers and cheese makers.
Also called: Almond Paste Mixer, Back of House Team Member, Batch Blender, Batch Maker, Batch Mixer, Batcher
Median pay
$42,290
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$31,990 – $58,940
People employed
174,520
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.Do you prefer working indoors?
- 2.Would you rather not deal with customers or the public?
- 3.Are you OK being on your feet and moving most of the day?
- 4.Are you OK repeating the same tasks most of the day?
- 5.Are you happy working mostly on your own, with little contact with others?
- 6.Are you comfortable following clear instructions?
- 7.Do you work well under tight deadlines?
The hard parts
- Long hours on your feet
- Tight deadlines are common
Food Batchmakers pay by state
Annual median pay by state (50 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What food batchmakers do
- 01Record production and test data for each food product batch, such as the ingredients used, temperature, test results, and time cycle.
- 02Clean and sterilize vats and factory processing areas.
- 03Test food product samples for moisture content, acidity level, specific gravity, or butter-fat content, and continue processing until desired levels are reached.
- 04Set up, operate, and tend equipment that cooks, mixes, blends, or processes ingredients in the manufacturing of food products, according to formulas or recipes.
- 05Mix or blend ingredients, according to recipes, using a paddle or an agitator, or by controlling vats that heat and mix ingredients.
- 06Inspect vats after cleaning to ensure that fermentable residue has been removed.
Skills that matter most
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Monitoring
- Writing
Knowledge
- Public Safety and Security
- Food Production
- Production and Processing
- Education and Training
- English Language
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: over 1 month, up to and including 3 months.
- On-the-job training: over 1 month, up to and including 3 months.
- A certification can help.
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 batchmakers
- Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders87% · +3%
- Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders87% · +22%
- Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders85% · +15%
- Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders84% · +8%
- Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders84% · −2%
Change into food batchmakers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders84% · $41,330
- Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products83% · $35,730
- Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders80% · $43,530
- Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders79% · $48,990
- Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders79% · $51,610
Majors that lead here
- Brewing Science
- Zymology/Fermentation Science
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.