Food cooking machine operators and tenders
SOC Code: 51-3093
Food cooking machine operators and tenders carries a 30% AI exposure score (Medium automation risk), with a median annual wage of $40,550 and +0.6% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 29,700 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
AI Exposure vs Industry Growth
Total occupations tracked
832
Covering all SOC major groups
Data currency
2024
BLS Employment Projections
AI exposure avg
40%
Fleet-wide median across all roles
Composite score weighing O*NET task data completeness, BLS projection methodology, and cross-validation with employer risk grades.
Employment Projections
Occupation Insight
Food cooking machine operators and tenders (SOC 51-3093) carries an AI exposure score of 30%, placing it in the Medium automation-risk tier. This score is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each task an occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score below 40% reflects tasks anchored in physical dexterity, unstructured environments, or high-touch human interaction that current AI cannot reliably replicate.
The economic context matters alongside the risk score. BLS counted approximately 29,700 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a +0.6% change through 2034 — modest growth that keeps the occupation viable even as tasks evolve. Median annual compensation stands at $40,550, reflecting both skill scarcity and the value employers place on the tasks that remain difficult to automate. Entry typically requires High school diploma or equivalent, plus None of related experience.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Food cooking machine operators and tenders. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure. Pair the AI exposure score with the BLS employment projection and wage percentiles above for a complete career assessment.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Clean, wash, and sterilize equipment and cooking area, using water hoses, cleaning or sterilizing solutions, or rinses.
- 2. Read work orders, recipes, or formulas to determine cooking times and temperatures, and ingredient specifications.
- 3. Observe gauges, dials, and product characteristics, and adjust controls to maintain appropriate temperature, pressure, and flow of ingredients.
- 4. Measure or weigh ingredients, using scales or measuring containers.
- 5. Tend or operate and control equipment, such as kettles, cookers, vats and tanks, and boilers, to cook ingredients or prepare products for further processing.
- 6. Record production and test data, such as processing steps, temperature and steam readings, cooking time, batches processed, and test results.
- 7. Set temperature, pressure, and time controls, and start conveyers, machines, or pumps.
- 8. Activate agitators and paddles to mix or stir ingredients, stopping machines when ingredients are thoroughly mixed.
- 9. Remove cooked material or products from equipment.
- 10. Collect and examine product samples during production to test them for quality, color, content, consistency, viscosity, acidity, or specific gravity.
Key Skills Required
- Operations Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Monitoring
- Operation and Control
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Coordination
- Complex Problem Solving
- Writing
- Quality Control Analysis
Knowledge Areas
- Production and Processing
- Food Production
- Administration and Management
- Education and Training
- Mechanical
- English Language
- Computers and Electronics
- Customer and Personal Service
- Personnel and Human Resources
- Chemistry
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Food cooking machine operators and tenders?
Food cooking machine operators and tenders has an AI exposure score of 30%, indicating a medium level of automation risk. The majority of tasks in this role require human judgment, creativity, or physical presence that AI cannot easily replicate.
What is the job outlook for Food cooking machine operators and tenders?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Food cooking machine operators and tenders is projected to grow by 0.6% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 29,700 workers.
What skills are needed for Food cooking machine operators and tenders?
Key skills for Food cooking machine operators and tenders include Operations Monitoring, Reading Comprehension, Monitoring, and others. Typical entry-level education is High school diploma or equivalent.
How much do Food cooking machine operators and tenders earn?
The median annual wage for Food cooking machine operators and tenders is $40,550, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Food cooking machine operators and tenders?
The typical entry-level education for Food cooking machine operators and tenders is High school diploma or equivalent. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves Moderate-term on-the-job training. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Food cooking machine operators and tenders?
Food cooking machine operators and tenders roles exist across many industries and employers. Workforce composition is estimated from BLS industry-occupation employment distributions matched to SEC-registered public companies.
AI Exposure Rating
Medium automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. Most tasks require human judgment and are resistant to automation.
Related Occupations
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Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).