How much does a food processing worker make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $19.08 an hour or $3,307 a month.
- Hourly
- $19.08
- Average (mean)
- $40,300
- Jobs
- 65,000
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $32,210 | $15.49 | |
| 25th | $36,410 | $17.50 | |
| Median | $39,680 | $19.08 | |
| 75th | $44,130 | $21.22 | |
| 90th | $47,950 | $23.05 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| Colorado | $46,930 |
| Idaho | $46,820 |
| Kansas | $46,060 |
| New Hampshire | $45,410 |
| Illinois | $45,340 |
| Arizona | $45,330 |
| North Dakota | $45,120 |
| Missouri | $44,050 |
| Washington | $43,980 |
| Vermont | $43,300 |
| Massachusetts | $43,200 |
| New York | $42,920 |
| Wyoming | $42,740 |
| Tennessee | $42,690 |
| Minnesota | $41,800 |
| Iowa | $41,740 |
| Pennsylvania | $41,620 |
| Utah | $41,400 |
| Florida | $41,390 |
| Indiana | $41,250 |
| Wisconsin | $40,590 |
| Texas | $40,150 |
| Delaware | $39,470 |
| Ohio | $39,470 |
| Michigan | $38,750 |
| Oklahoma | $38,530 |
| Maine | $38,270 |
| California | $38,230 |
| Oregon | $38,170 |
| Mississippi | $38,150 |
| Arkansas | $37,840 |
| Georgia | $37,810 |
| Virginia | $37,810 |
| West Virginia | $37,750 |
| Montana | $37,740 |
| Alabama | $37,510 |
| Connecticut | $37,450 |
| Kentucky | $37,450 |
| North Carolina | $37,360 |
| South Carolina | $37,060 |
| Maryland | $35,870 |
| Rhode Island | $34,770 |
| New Jersey | $34,670 |
| New Mexico | $34,560 |
| Louisiana | $31,230 |
| Nevada | $30,120 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Rochester, MN | $62,330 |
| Hanford, CA | $53,420 |
| Lancaster, PA | $51,490 |
| Longview, WA | $50,500 |
| Harrisburg, PA | $50,310 |
| Boulder, CO | $48,850 |
| Raleigh, NC | $48,600 |
| Seattle, WA | $47,800 |
| Denver, CO | $47,750 |
| Chattanooga, TN | $47,320 |
| Reno, NV | $47,020 |
| Sioux City, IA | $46,350 |
| Morristown, TN | $46,320 |
| Greeley, CO | $46,240 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $45,330 |
In other countries
Food Processing Worker belongs to the international group "Fruit, vegetable and related preservers".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Baker$37,160
- Butcher and Meat Cutter$40,140
- Meat$38,300
- Slaughterer and Meat Packer$40,130
- Food and Tobacco Roasting$44,810
- Food Batchmaker$42,290
- Food Cooking Machine Operator and Tender$41,590
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food processing worker make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $19.08 ($39,680 a year).
How much does a food processing worker make a month?
About $3,307 a month before tax, based on a median of $39,680 a year.
How much does a food processing worker make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $32,210 or less a year ($15.49 an hour); the top 10% make $47,950 or more.
Which state pays food processing workers the most?
Colorado, with a median of $46,930 a year, followed by Idaho ($46,820) and Kansas ($46,060).
Which city pays food processing workers the most?
Rochester, MN, with a median of $62,330 a year.
How many food processing workers are there in the United States?
About 65,000 people work as food processing workers.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.