Food Processing Workers

At a Glance

Cook very large quantities of food
Work using hands and cooking machines
Have a low level of social interaction
Receive on-the-job training
May work only during the summer and fall harvest

Career summary

Food processing workers prepare raw food items and combine ingredients to make food products.

Food processing workers may also be known as food production workers, cannery workers, food batchmakers, cooking equipment setters, operators, and tenders, or food roasting, baking, or drying machine operators.

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Food processing workers cook large quantities of food. They work for companies that create the canned, boxed, and frozen foods sold in grocery stores. Rather than cook a few gallons of soup as a chef might, food processing workers cook kettles, vats, or tanks of soup.

Workers generally cook the same or similar items each day. They might always cook soups, lasagnas, spaghetti sauces, or other types of prepared foods. They also cook items such as potato chips, noodles, and crackers that have simpler cooking processes.

Food processing workers begin their shifts by reading work orders. These orders tell workers which products to cook and how much to make. Work orders also include the recipes for the products.

Once they know what they will cook, workers measure or weigh the ingredients they need. They also determine the order for mixing ingredients. Then they add the items to the cooking equipment. Because they are dealing with large quantities of ingredients, workers may use hoists to lift some items.

Related careers

This career is part of the Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to food processing workers.

Read work orders to determine which products to prepare.
Measure and weigh ingredients, using English or metric measures and balance scales.
Determine mixing sequence.
Add ingredients or products into cooking equipment, manually or using hoists.
Mix or blend ingredients using paddles or agitators.
Add required amounts of water, steam, cooking oils, or compressed air into equipment.
Cook ingredients at specified temperatures.
Take samples of products during or after processing for laboratory analysis.
Examine, feel, and taste products to evaluate their color, texture, flavor, and smell.
Remove cooked material or products from equipment.
Smooth out product in bin, tray, or conveyor, using rake or shovel.
Clean and wash equipment, using water hoses, cleaning or sterilizing solutions, or rinses.
Record amount of ingredients used, results of tests, and time cycles.
Calculate ingredient amounts to formulate or modify recipes.
Operate machines and equipment, such as grinders and canners, to prepare or further process products.

Common work activities

Food processing workers perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

Get information needed to do the job
Control machines and processes
Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
Perform activities that use the whole body
Handle and move objects
Inspect equipment, structures, or materials
Identify objects, actions, and events
Make decisions and solve problems
Document and record information
Evaluate information against standards
Teach others
Process information
Establish and maintain relationships
Organize, plan, and prioritize work
Coordinate the work and activities of others
Estimate sizes, quantities, time, cost, or materials needed
Judge the value of objects, services, or people
Analyze data or information
Use computers
Update and use job-related knowledge
Explain the meaning of information to others
Develop and build teams
Coach others

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, food processing workers:

Interpersonal relationships

Have a medium level of social contact. They interact with coworkers and supervisors while working but usually do not interact with the public.
Are somewhat responsible for the health and safety of those who consume the foods they prepare.
Often work as part of a team.
Are somewhat responsible for the work done by other processing workers.

Physical work conditions

Always work indoors. Work locations may not always have air conditioning.
Always wear protective or safety attire.
Are regularly exposed to loud sounds and distracting noise levels from kitchen equipment.
Are sometimes exposed to very hot or very cold temperatures.
Are sometimes exposed to contaminants.
Are occasionally exposed to hazardous situations and equipment that may produce cuts or minor burns.
May work closely to others, such as a few feet away.

Work performance

Must allow the work pace to be determined by the speed of equipment or machinery.
Must be exact in their work and be sure all details are done. Errors could produce products that do not taste right or may contain harmful bacteria.
Repeat the same physical activities.
Usually consult supervisors before making decisions.
Must meet strict weekly deadlines.

Hours/travel

Usually work 40 hours a week.

Physical demands

Food processing workers frequently:

Stand for long periods of time.
Use their hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
Walk or run for long periods of time.
Repeat the same movements.

It is important for food processing workers to be able to:

See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
Understand the speech of another person.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for food processing workers to be able to:

Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
React quickly using hands, fingers, or feet.
Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.
Adjust body movements or equipment controls to keep pace with speed changes of moving objects.
Bend, stretch, twist, or reach out.
See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
Use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects.
Be physically active for long periods without getting tired or out of breath.
Choose quickly and correctly among various movements when responding to different signals.
Coordinate movement of several parts of the body, such as arms and legs, while the body is moving.
Determine the distance between objects.
Move arms and legs quickly.
Make fast, repeated movements of fingers, hands, and wrists.

Skills and abilities

Food processing workers need to:

Communicate

Understand spoken information.
Read and understand work-related materials.
Understand written information.
Listen to others and ask questions.
Speak clearly so listeners can understand.

Reason and problem solve

Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.
Develop rules that group items in various ways.
Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

Check how well one is learning or doing something.

Work with people

Change behavior in relation to others' actions.

Work with things

Watch gauges, dials, and output to make sure a machine is working properly.
Operate and control equipment.

Perceive and visualize

Quickly and accurately compare letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study to consider

Food Science

Training

To work as a food processing worker, you typically need to:

complete moderate-term, on-the-job training.

Education after high school

No formal education is required for this job. However, many employers prefer that you have a high school diploma or its equivalent.

On-the-job training

Food processing workers usually receive informal training on the job from experienced workers. You begin by doing simple tasks, such as loading and unloading materials. As you get experience, you learn to do more complex tasks, such as operating machinery.

Training may last one month up to one year. After training, another worker supervises your work for a short time.

Helpful high school courses

You should take a general high school curriculum that meets the state's graduation requirements. You will be required to take both math and science classes to graduate.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

Culinary Arts
Family and Consumer Sciences
Food and Nutrition
Safety and First Aid

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Few employers require food processing workers to have formal training. They do, however, look for healthy applicants. They also look for applicants who have the ability to sort food, tend machines, or fill containers quickly and accurately.

Food processing or handling experience may be helpful for more advanced jobs.

Most processing plants require applicants to be able to speak and write in English because workers must be able to understand and follow directions to safely work with processing machinery and related chemicals. Over half of all food processing workers are union members. Many belong to the Teamsters or Operating Engineers Union.

Costs to workers

Workers who join a union must pay an initiation fee and dues.

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website (external link) .

Wages

The minimum wage for Washington State as of January 1, 2020 is $13.50 per hour. Some areas of the state may have a higher minimum wage.

Food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders (SOC 51-3091)

Location	Pay Period
Location	Pay Period	10%	25%	Median	75%	90%
Washington	Hourly	$14.25	$16.06	$18.00	$20.84	$23.80
	Monthly	$2,470	$2,783	$3,119	$3,612	$4,125
	Yearly	$29,640	$33,410	$37,440	$43,350	$49,500
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue	Hourly	$15.68	$16.84	$18.78	$21.87	$24.48
	Monthly	$2,717	$2,918	$3,255	$3,790	$4,242
	Yearly	$32,610	$35,009	$39,064	$45,496	$50,906
Vancouver	Hourly	$13.88	$16.69	$20.62	$23.76	$26.58
	Monthly	$2,405	$2,892	$3,573	$4,118	$4,606
	Yearly	$28,862	$34,713	$42,891	$49,430	$55,297
United States	Hourly	$9.76	$11.60	$14.83	$18.74	$23.57
	Monthly	$1,691	$2,010	$2,570	$3,248	$4,085
	Yearly	$20,310	$24,120	$30,840	$38,970	$49,030

Food batchmakers (SOC 51-3092)

Location	Pay Period
Location	Pay Period	10%	25%	Median	75%	90%
Washington	Hourly	$11.99	$13.02	$15.05	$18.09	$22.66
	Monthly	$2,078	$2,256	$2,608	$3,135	$3,927
	Yearly	$24,950	$27,080	$31,300	$37,620	$47,140
Bellingham	Hourly	$12.86	$13.90	$15.76	$18.09	$19.63
	Monthly	$2,229	$2,409	$2,731	$3,135	$3,402
	Yearly	$26,753	$28,905	$32,783	$37,640	$40,817
Kennewick-Richland	Hourly	$12.08	$13.61	$16.14	$19.38	$23.95
	Monthly	$2,093	$2,359	$2,797	$3,359	$4,151
	Yearly	$25,123	$28,318	$33,576	$40,315	$49,826
Mount Vernon-Anacortes	Hourly	$12.04	$12.45	$16.04	$18.82	$22.03
	Monthly	$2,087	$2,158	$2,780	$3,262	$3,818
	Yearly	$25,050	$25,886	$33,361	$39,148	$45,833
Olympia-Tumwater	Hourly	$11.91	$12.09	$12.41	$13.29	$15.72
	Monthly	$2,064	$2,095	$2,151	$2,303	$2,724
	Yearly	$24,754	$25,151	$25,811	$27,637	$32,702
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue	Hourly	$12.49	$13.62	$15.59	$18.48	$24.46
	Monthly	$2,165	$2,360	$2,702	$3,203	$4,239
	Yearly	$25,986	$28,327	$32,427	$38,436	$50,860
Spokane-Spokane Valley	Hourly	$12.19	$13.51	$16.21	$21.99	$24.68
	Monthly	$2,113	$2,341	$2,809	$3,811	$4,277
	Yearly	$25,350	$28,094	$33,720	$45,742	$51,342
Vancouver	Hourly	$11.24	$12.27	$14.23	$17.34	$20.34
	Monthly	$1,948	$2,126	$2,466	$3,005	$3,525
	Yearly	$23,371	$25,531	$29,596	$36,051	$42,305
Wenatchee	Hourly	$11.98	$12.28	$12.83	$17.14	$18.77
	Monthly	$2,076	$2,128	$2,223	$2,970	$3,253
	Yearly	$24,916	$25,560	$26,673	$35,647	$39,038
Yakima	Hourly	$12.18	$13.78	$16.81	$20.09	$23.69
	Monthly	$2,111	$2,388	$2,913	$3,482	$4,105
	Yearly	$25,347	$28,664	$34,964	$41,780	$49,273
United States	Hourly	$10.12	$11.63	$14.29	$18.56	$23.05
	Monthly	$1,754	$2,015	$2,476	$3,216	$3,995
	Yearly	$21,050	$24,180	$29,720	$38,610	$47,940

Food cooking machine operators and tenders (SOC 51-3093)

Location	Pay Period
Location	Pay Period	10%	25%	Median	75%	90%
Washington	Hourly	$12.14	$13.90	$16.79	$18.92	$22.05
	Monthly	$2,104	$2,409	$2,910	$3,279	$3,821
	Yearly	$25,250	$28,920	$34,920	$39,360	$45,870
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue	Hourly	$12.31	$13.42	$16.57	$18.73	$20.04
	Monthly	$2,133	$2,326	$2,872	$3,246	$3,473
	Yearly	$25,614	$27,903	$34,476	$38,954	$41,684
Vancouver	Hourly	$15.81	$16.92	$18.20	$19.50	$20.35
	Monthly	$2,740	$2,932	$3,154	$3,379	$3,527
	Yearly	$32,893	$35,185	$37,850	$40,543	$42,327
Yakima	Hourly	$12.76	$14.01	$16.44	$18.80	$20.78
	Monthly	$2,211	$2,428	$2,849	$3,258	$3,601
	Yearly	$26,561	$29,149	$34,184	$39,100	$43,222
United States	Hourly	$10.21	$11.89	$14.48	$17.94	$21.83
	Monthly	$1,769	$2,061	$2,509	$3,109	$3,783
	Yearly	$21,230	$24,730	$30,120	$37,310	$45,400

Wages for food processing workers vary by the type of work they do. Wages also vary with the type of food processed, the employer, and the area of the country. Workers who are members of unions generally earn more than non-union workers.

Food processing workers who work full time usually receive benefits. Typical benefits include sick leave, paid vacation, and health insurance.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

In Washington, the outlook depends on the expansion of processing facilities, demand for products, amount of product available for processing, competition by other states or countries, and technological advances.

Work in most processing plants is seasonal. The length of the processing period depends on the type of food processed. Employment is usually highest in August, September, and October. Mechanical pickers have reduced the harvest season for some crops. A poor crop yield can also affect the amount of produce available for processing.

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders (SOC 51-3091)

		This occupation	All occupations
Location	Current employment	Growth over 10 years		Annual openings
Washington	530	4.7%	16.1%	66
Adams, Chelan, Douglas, Grant, and Okanogan Counties	26	3.8%	13.4%	3
Benton and Franklin Counties	39	5.1%	15.0%	5
Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, and Thurston Counties	11	-9.1%	14.1%	1
Island, San Juan, Skagit, and Whatcom Counties	16	12.5%	14.6%	2
King County	36	5.6%	19.6%	4
Kittitas, Klickitat, Skamania, and Yakima Counties	21	4.8%	13.8%	2
Pierce County	290	4.1%	15.2%	36
United States	21,000	0.5%	5.2%	2,900

Food Batchmakers (SOC 51-3092)

		This occupation	All occupations
Location	Current employment	Growth over 10 years		Annual openings
Washington	4,690	5.3%	16.1%	721
Adams, Chelan, Douglas, Grant, and Okanogan Counties	224	20.5%	13.4%	44
Asotin, Columbia, Ferry, Garfield, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Stevens, Walla Walla, and Whitman Counties	20	30.0%	8.6%	4
Benton and Franklin Counties	464	2.8%	15.0%	68
Clallam, Jefferson, and Kitsap Counties	39	7.7%	11.9%	6
Clark, Cowlitz, and Wahkiakum Counties	277	14.1%	15.2%	50
Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, and Thurston Counties	183	-1.6%	14.1%	24
Island, San Juan, Skagit, and Whatcom Counties	380	4.2%	14.6%	58
King County	2,022	3.3%	19.6%	299
Kittitas, Klickitat, Skamania, and Yakima Counties	405	3.7%	13.8%	61
Pierce County	227	11.0%	15.2%	38
Snohomish County	293	4.8%	12.4%	44
Spokane County	131	7.6%	13.9%	21
United States	163,800	2.0%	5.2%	24,800

Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders (SOC 51-3093)

		This occupation	All occupations
Location	Current employment	Growth over 10 years		Annual openings
Washington	900	4.1%	16.1%	132
Adams, Chelan, Douglas, Grant, and Okanogan Counties	78	6.4%	13.4%	12
Asotin, Columbia, Ferry, Garfield, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Stevens, Walla Walla, and Whitman Counties	17	5.9%	8.6%	2
Benton and Franklin Counties	199	3.5%	15.0%	29
Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, and Thurston Counties	28	0.0%	14.1%	4
Island, San Juan, Skagit, and Whatcom Counties	84	4.8%	14.6%	12
King County	321	3.7%	19.6%	47
Kittitas, Klickitat, Skamania, and Yakima Counties	36	2.8%	13.8%	5
Snohomish County	34	20.6%	12.4%	6
Spokane County	25	4.0%	13.9%	4
United States	35,100	2.8%	5.2%	5,700

National employment

Many food processing workers work only during the summer and fall harvest.

Major employers:

Bakeries and tortilla manufacturers
Fruit and vegetable processing companies
Meat processing companies
Dairy product manufacturers
Sugar processing companies

National outlook

There will be slow growth for food processing workers. This is because more food processors are automating their food processing systems. This means fewer workers are required.

Despite little growth, openings will become available as current workers leave this occupation. Job prospects are best in rural areas where large food processing plants are located.

Other resources

Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union

Washington Business Week
PO Box 1170
Renton, WA 98057
253.237.3545

References

Career cluster

Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources

Career path

Realistic (Technical)

O*Net occupations

O*Net job zone

Job Zone 2 - Some preparation needed. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful in these occupations, but usually is not needed.