Occupation salary profile

Food Batchmakers

SOC 51-3092 BLS OEWS May 2025

Set up and operate equipment that mixes or blends ingredients used in the manufacturing of food products. Includes candy makers and cheese makers.

National median · BLS
$42,290
▲ +3.68% YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$43,750
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
174,520
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Food Batchmakers

Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.

Percentile All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay$31,990
25th$36,350
Median (50th)$42,290
75th$49,670
90th — top pay$58,940

Hourly ⇄ annual pay

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Based on hrs/week × weeks/year = 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035

Job outlook for Food Batchmakers

BLS projects employment of food batchmakers to grow 6.5% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 23,100 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.

Jobs 2025 → 2035
176,800 → 188,200
+11,400 jobs
Projected change
+6.5%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
23,100
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Self-employed
1.7% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Fastest-growing jobs → Best-paying jobs that need a high school diploma →

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035 · BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook →

Skills & tools

Skills needed for Food Batchmakers

How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.

Top skills
  • Operations Monitoring3.3
  • Critical Thinking3.1
  • Reading Comprehension3.1
  • Active Listening3.0
  • Coordination3.0
  • Operation and Control3.0
  • Speaking3.0
  • Complex Problem Solving2.9
  • Judgment and Decision Making2.9
  • Monitoring2.9
Top knowledge areas
  • Public Safety and Security4.3
  • Food Production4.3
  • Production and Processing4.2
  • Education and Training3.6
  • English Language3.5
  • Administration and Management3.1
  • Mechanical3.1
  • Mathematics3.1
Software and technology used
Microsoft Office softwareEdible SoftwarePlex Systems Plex Manufacturing Cloud

Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).

Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

About the job

What food batchmakers do

  • 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.
Also called
Batching OperatorBlenderMixerMixer OperatorBrewing TechnicianCompounderDosier OperatorDough ScalerMix TechnicianSyrup Maker
More job titles for this occupation (80)
Almond Paste MixerBack of House Team MemberBatch BlenderBatch MakerBatch MixerBatcherBatter MixerBiscuit MakerBlend OperatorBlender OperatorBlending Machine OperatorBlow Up OperatorBologna MakerBran MixerBread MolderBrewery TechnicianBrine MakerBrine Mixer OperatorCake MakerCandy DecoratorCandy DipperCandy Forming Machine OperatorCandy MakerCandy PolisherCandy PullerCaramel MakerCereal MakerCheese MakerCheese MongerCheese ProcessorCheesemakerChicken StufferChili MakerChocolate TempererChocolatierChurn OperatorChurnerCocoa Powder Mixer OperatorCoffee BlenderColorerColorist DyerCompound MixerConche OperatorConfectionerCore SuckerCottage Cheese MakerCream BeaterCruller MakerCustom Feed Corn OperatorDonut MakerDough Brake Machine OperatorDough BrakerDough CatcherDough CutterDough Cutting Machine OperatorDough Machine OperatorDough MakerDough MixerDough Mixing Machine OperatorDough MolderDough PannerDough PuncherDough RaiserDough RollerDoughnut GlazierDry Starch OperatorFlavor ExtractorFlavorings CompounderFlour BlenderFlour MixerFood Processing OperatorFood ProcessorFood Production WorkerFormula MixerFrozen Yogurt MakerGrated Cheese MakerHoney BlenderHoney GraderIce Cream Machine OperatorIce Cream Maker

Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.