Food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders
SOC Code: 51-3091Also known as:
Automatic Oven Operator, Bakery Production Associate, Bakery Production Worker, Bakery Worker, Baking Assistant
Median Annual Salary
$42,730
+0.6% growth (2024-2034)
2K
Openings/Year
21K
Current Jobs
What Food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders Do
Operate or tend food or tobacco roasting, baking, or drying equipment, including hearth ovens, kiln driers, roasters, char kilns, and vacuum drying equipment.
💰 Salary
$42,730
Median annual wage (2024)
📈 Job Growth
+0.6%
Little or no change
🎓 Education
No formal educational credential
Typical entry-level requirement
🚀 Annual Openings
2K
Projected average per year
📚 On-the-Job Training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Expected training period
Employment Projections (2024-2034)
Current Employment (2024)
20,700
Projected Employment (2034)
20,800
Related Careers
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-5.4% growth
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+6.9% growth
Food cooking machine operators and tenders
$40,550 •
+0.6% growth
Furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders
$47,010 •
+3.0% growth
Top Skills Required
Operations Monitoring
Monitoring
Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Critical Thinking
Daily Tasks & Responsibilities
- Observe, feel, taste, or otherwise examine products during and after processing to ensure conformance to standards.
- Set temperature and time controls, light ovens, burners, driers, or roasters, and start equipment, such as conveyors, cylinders, blowers, driers, or pumps.
- Observe temperature, humidity, pressure gauges, and product samples and adjust controls, such as thermostats and valves, to maintain prescribed operating conditions for specific stages.
- Observe flow of materials and listen for machine malfunctions, such as jamming or spillage, and notify supervisors if corrective actions fail.
- Record production data, such as weight and amount of product processed, type of product, and time and temperature of processing.
- Weigh or measure products, using scale hoppers or scale conveyors.
- Operate or tend equipment that roasts, bakes, dries, or cures food items such as cocoa and coffee beans, grains, nuts, and bakery products.
- Signal coworkers to synchronize flow of materials.
- Read work orders to determine quantities and types of products to be baked, dried, or roasted.
- Fill or remove product from trays, carts, hoppers, or equipment, using scoops, peels, or shovels, or by hand.
Technology & Tools
📚 Entry-Level Education
No formal educational credential
Most common requirement
🎯 Recommended Education
High School Diploma
O*NET recommended level
College Rankings
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much do food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders make?
The median annual salary for food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders is $42,730.
What education do food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders need?
Most food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders positions require a no formal educational credential.
Is becoming food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders a good career choice?
Food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders is projected to see +0.6% job growth from 2024 to 2034,
which is about average for all occupations. With approximately 2,400 job openings expected annually,
there are good opportunities for those entering the field.
What are the best colleges for food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders?
The best colleges offer strong programs in related fields with experienced faculty and industry connections.
What other job titles are similar to food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders?
Food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders may also be known as: Automatic Oven Operator, Bakery Production Associate, Bakery Production Worker, Bakery Worker, Baking Assistant, Bean Roaster, Belt Conveyor Drier, Bone Char Kiln Operator, Bun Panner, Buttermilk Drier Operator, Chocolate Temperer, Cocoa Bean Roaster, Cocoa Roaster, Coffee Roaster, Continuous Process Coffee Roaster, Corn Popper, Curing Bin Operator, Curing Room Worker, Dehydrator Operator, Dehydrator Tender.
These titles often refer to similar roles with varying responsibilities or specializations.