How much does a food batchmaker make?
Answer: A typical food batchmaker in the United States makes $42,290 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 175,000 people work in this job. About the same as the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Food batchmaker pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $31,990 | $42,290 | $58,940 | about 175,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Vermont | $50,180 | about 1,000 |
| Idaho | $49,570 | about 2,000 |
| Wisconsin | $48,360 | about 18,000 |
| Iowa | $48,300 | about 4,000 |
| Illinois | $48,130 | about 12,000 |
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, pay can vary with experience and skill, the food industry or employer, and the state or city. More complex tasks and greater responsibility may pay differently; factories also use different shifts, which can change hours worked.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a food batchmaker do?
Set up and operate equipment that mixes or blends ingredients used in the manufacturing of food products. Includes candy makers and cheese makers.
What's a typical day like?
They weigh ingredients from a recipe, load a mixer or heated vat, and watch its temperature and texture as it blends. They check samples and record batch details, then clean and sanitize the equipment.
How to get this job
Many U.S. food batchmaker jobs ask for a high school diploma or equivalent; employers then teach workers food-safety rules and how to run the machines. Training usually takes a few weeks to a few months, often with experienced workers as teachers.
High school plus some training (preparation level 2 of 5)
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized.
Did you know?
Some U.S. food batchmakers taste and feel samples during production to check flavor, color, and texture—not just watch the machines.
Similar jobs
Jobs using similar skills (O*NET)Earn more in the same field
Production jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/production/food-and-tobacco-processing-workers.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/51-3092.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes513092.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY