Career Paths From Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders

Possible next moves, computed from skill overlap, O*NET occupational relatedness, preparation level, education, and pay — not a record of people who actually made these moves.

Food BatchmakersLateral Move95.3% skill match
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders and Food Batchmakers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Food Batchmakers sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move.
Current median salary
$41,590
Target median salary
$42,290
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and TendersLateral Move93.9% skill match
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders and Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 16% higher.
Current median salary
$41,590
Target median salary
$48,040
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Tire BuildersLateral Move91.4% skill match
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders and Tire Builders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (91% match). Tire Builders sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 38% higher.
Current median salary
$41,590
Target median salary
$57,390
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Machine Feeders and OffbearersCareer Change91.5% skill match
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders and Machine Feeders and Offbearers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (92% match). Machine Feeders and Offbearers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set.
Current median salary
$41,590
Target median salary
$41,220
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersLateral Move92.1% skill match
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders and Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (92% match). Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 17% higher.
Current median salary
$41,590
Target median salary
$48,570
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Fiberglass Laminators and FabricatorsLateral Move91.5% skill match
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders and Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (91% match). Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 13% higher.
Current median salary
$41,590
Target median salary
$46,880
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive FirersCareer Change96.7% skill match
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders and Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (97% match). Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 66% higher.
Current median salary
$41,590
Target median salary
$68,840
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Locomotive EngineersCareer Change94.9% skill match
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders and Locomotive Engineers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Locomotive Engineers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 96% higher.
Current median salary
$41,590
Target median salary
$81,410
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Slaughterers and Meat PackersLateral Move95.3% skill match
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders and Slaughterers and Meat Packers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Slaughterers and Meat Packers sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 4% lower.
Current median salary
$41,590
Target median salary
$40,130
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Coil Winders, Tapers, and FinishersLateral Move93.5% skill match
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders and Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 16% higher.
Current median salary
$41,590
Target median salary
$48,220
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
PaperhangersCareer Change93.1% skill match
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders and Paperhangers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Paperhangers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 25% higher.
Current median salary
$41,590
Target median salary
$52,140
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsCareer Change94% skill match
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders and Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 41% higher.
Current median salary
$41,590
Target median salary
$58,470
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Bridge and Lock TendersCareer Change92.4% skill match
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders and Bridge and Lock Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (92% match). Bridge and Lock Tenders is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 39% higher.
Current median salary
$41,590
Target median salary
$57,700
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Bus Drivers, Transit and IntercityCareer Change91.8% skill match
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders and Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity share a similar Transferable Skills profile (92% match). Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 42% higher.
Current median salary
$41,590
Target median salary
$59,050
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandCareer Change91.1% skill match
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders and Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand share a similar Transferable Skills profile (91% match). Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 3% lower.
Current median salary
$41,590
Target median salary
$40,240
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2

Computed from O*NET Transferable Skills, occupational relatedness and Job Zone data, plus BLS wage and projections data. Categories (Advancement / Lateral Move / Career Change) are derived algorithmically, not self-reported career histories.