Food batchmakers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $31,990 | $15.38 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $42,290 | $20.33 |
| Mean (average) | $43,750 | $21.04 |
| 90th percentile | $58,940 | $28.34 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Food batchmakers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 51 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $36,980 | $29,110 | $49,740 | 1,280 | 0.54 |
| Alaska | $39,030 | $34,540 | $56,070 | 100 | 0.27 |
| Arizona | $40,550 | $32,190 | $58,370 | 2,300 | 0.63 |
| Arkansas | $38,990 | $31,290 | $48,880 | 2,120 | 1.45 |
| California | $41,670 | $35,700 | $58,010 | 12,560 | 0.61 |
| Colorado | $44,900 | $36,820 | $61,130 | 3,880 | 1.2 |
| Connecticut | $39,110 | $35,960 | $55,870 | 1,460 | 0.76 |
| Delaware | $37,220 | $31,400 | $59,450 | 380 | 0.7 |
| Florida | $35,500 | $28,680 | $50,090 | 3,670 | 0.33 |
| Georgia | $46,490 | $28,680 | $58,960 | 4,290 | 0.78 |
| Hawaii | $37,490 | $30,490 | $49,390 | 360 | 0.51 |
| Idaho | $49,570 | $32,980 | $61,230 | 1,700 | 1.77 |
| Illinois | $48,130 | $34,680 | $61,750 | 12,320 | 1.8 |
| Indiana | $39,700 | $30,250 | $58,490 | 5,570 | 1.55 |
| Iowa | $48,300 | $35,830 | $62,780 | 4,160 | 2.37 |
| Kansas | $42,850 | $32,000 | $62,350 | 3,230 | 2 |
| Kentucky | $46,900 | $31,690 | $61,340 | 4,570 | 2.03 |
| Louisiana | $34,620 | $27,630 | $43,530 | 530 | 0.24 |
| Maine | $42,260 | $36,320 | $56,160 | 610 | 0.85 |
| Maryland | $40,240 | $31,680 | $61,960 | 1,390 | 0.45 |
| Massachusetts | $36,880 | $31,200 | $49,360 | 5,100 | 1.25 |
| Michigan | $40,160 | $31,930 | $62,150 | 5,130 | 1.04 |
| Minnesota | $42,940 | $32,100 | $59,520 | 7,660 | 2.31 |
| Mississippi | $36,530 | $32,740 | $48,000 | 660 | 0.5 |
| Missouri | $45,690 | $37,340 | $61,560 | 2,280 | 0.69 |
| Montana | $39,630 | $29,030 | $52,000 | 170 | 0.3 |
| Nebraska | $41,210 | $31,840 | $54,720 | 1,270 | 1.1 |
| Nevada | $41,120 | $29,780 | $56,840 | 880 | 0.5 |
| New Hampshire | $37,470 | $33,630 | $49,150 | 190 | 0.25 |
| New Jersey | $38,250 | $32,350 | $56,440 | 3,640 | 0.76 |
| New Mexico | $37,390 | $28,990 | $52,640 | 450 | 0.46 |
| New York | $38,470 | $33,040 | $53,560 | 8,460 | 0.78 |
| North Carolina | $36,590 | $29,030 | $51,070 | 3,450 | 0.62 |
| North Dakota | $40,840 | $35,180 | $51,840 | 250 | 0.52 |
| Ohio | $44,590 | $31,510 | $59,860 | 7,040 | 1.13 |
| Oklahoma | $36,320 | $27,060 | $51,260 | 930 | 0.49 |
| Oregon | $39,850 | $35,050 | $56,430 | 3,420 | 1.55 |
| Pennsylvania | $39,920 | $31,370 | $59,310 | 8,160 | 1.2 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,270 | $21,840 | $28,060 | 1,520 | 1.44 |
| Rhode Island | $39,250 | $31,200 | $46,520 | 310 | 0.55 |
| South Carolina | $37,070 | $28,910 | $52,200 | 700 | 0.27 |
| South Dakota | $39,200 | $32,180 | $56,640 | 660 | 1.29 |
| Tennessee | $42,610 | $34,850 | $56,570 | 2,920 | 0.79 |
| Texas | $37,500 | $22,410 | $53,100 | 13,250 | 0.84 |
| Utah | $41,390 | $31,840 | $57,610 | 3,250 | 1.67 |
| Vermont | $50,180 | $36,750 | $62,070 | 1,000 | 2.94 |
| Virginia | $41,080 | $31,670 | $56,160 | 2,870 | 0.62 |
| Washington | $42,710 | $36,920 | $58,780 | 5,700 | 1.43 |
| West Virginia | $34,660 | $26,100 | $47,630 | 70 | 0.09 |
| Wisconsin | $48,360 | $36,990 | $58,880 | 18,040 | 5.46 |
| Wyoming | $38,430 | $26,960 | $45,560 | 100 | 0.33 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for food batchmakers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 23,100. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 1.7%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for food batchmakers
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Brewing Science CIP 01.1003
- Zymology/Fermentation Science CIP 01.1005
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Record production and test data for each food product batch, such as the ingredients used, temperature, test results, and time cycle.
- Clean and sterilize vats and factory processing areas.
- Set up, operate, and tend equipment that cooks, mixes, blends, or processes ingredients in the manufacturing of food products, according to formulas or recipes.
- Mix or blend ingredients, according to recipes, using a paddle or an agitator, or by controlling vats that heat and mix ingredients.
- Follow recipes to produce food products of specified flavor, texture, clarity, bouquet, or color.
- Give directions to other workers who are assisting in the batchmaking process.
- Select and measure or weigh ingredients, using English or metric measures and balance scales.
- Press switches and turn knobs to start, adjust, and regulate equipment, such as beaters, extruders, discharge pipes, and salt pumps.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Edible Software
- Plex Systems Plex Manufacturing Cloud
Transferable skills for career changers: Operations Monitoring, Coordination, Operation and Control, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Social Perceptiveness.
Common job titles: Batching Operator, Blender, Brewing Technician, Compounder, Dosier Operator, Dough Scaler, Mix Technician, Mixer, Mixer Operator, Syrup Maker.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do food batchmakers make?
The national median annual wage for food batchmakers was $42,290 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $31,990 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $58,940. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do food batchmakers need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is food batchmakers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of food batchmakers to change +6.5% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 23,100 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay food batchmakers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Vermont ($50,180), Idaho ($49,570), Wisconsin ($48,360). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.