Food Batchmakers: Career Profile
Set up and operate equipment that mixes or blends ingredients used in the manufacturing of food products. Includes candy makers and cheese makers.
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The Daily Work of Food Batchmakers Do?
The core tasks performed by food batchmakers span:
- 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.
What Food Batchmakers Need to Know
Top food batchmakers rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The competencies most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Types of Food Batchmakers Jobs
Common job titles for this role include:
- Almond Paste Mixer
- Back of House Team Member
- Batch Blender
- Batch Maker
- Batch Mixer
- Batcher
- Batching Operator
- Batter Mixer
How Many Food Batchmakers Are There?
There are roughly 398,120 food batchmakers working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to decline by -3.6% over the projection horizon.
Food Batchmakers Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $55,617 |
| Hourly median | $26.74 |
| 10th percentile | $39,411 |
| 25th percentile | $47,514 |
| 75th percentile | $63,721 |
| 90th percentile | $71,824 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Food Batchmakers Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Iowa | $48,790 |
| Illinois | $48,440 |
| Vermont | $47,390 |
| Missouri | $46,960 |
| Kentucky | $46,900 |
| Wisconsin | $46,760 |
| Indiana | $46,040 |
| Washington | $45,040 |
| Alaska | $44,250 |
| Idaho | $44,120 |
| Maryland | $44,060 |
| Georgia | $44,030 |
| Colorado | $43,590 |
| Montana | $42,640 |
| Kansas | $41,830 |
| Nevada | $41,030 |
| Pennsylvania | $40,330 |
| California | $40,110 |
| Ohio | $39,760 |
| Virginia | $39,660 |
| New Hampshire | $39,510 |
| North Carolina | $39,320 |
| Maine | $39,310 |
| Michigan | $39,290 |
| Arizona | $39,270 |
| Minnesota | $39,180 |
| North Dakota | $39,110 |
| Tennessee | $39,020 |
| Nebraska | $38,810 |
| Utah | $38,790 |
| Rhode Island | $38,760 |
| Oregon | $38,600 |
| South Dakota | $38,490 |
| New York | $37,280 |
| Connecticut | $37,080 |
| Wyoming | $36,610 |
| Arkansas | $36,550 |
| New Jersey | $36,470 |
| Massachusetts | $36,460 |
| Delaware | $36,340 |
| Oklahoma | $36,250 |
| Florida | $36,070 |
| New Mexico | $35,940 |
| South Carolina | $35,870 |
| Mississippi | $35,320 |
| Alabama | $35,260 |
| Hawaii | $34,150 |
| Louisiana | $34,140 |
| Texas | $33,880 |
| West Virginia | $23,600 |
| Puerto Rico | $20,810 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Pay for food batchmakers shift depending on where you work. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Lakes | $45,236 | 29.2% | 3.11 |
| Plains States | $43,171 | 10.8% | 1.87 |
| Rocky Mountains | $41,678 | 4.7% | 1.30 |
| Far Western US | $40,893 | 12.1% | 0.84 |
| Southeast | $40,273 | 14.3% | 0.94 |
| Middle Atlantic | $38,522 | 12.6% | 0.90 |
| New England | $38,176 | 5.4% | 1.41 |
| Southwest | $34,772 | 10.3% | 0.84 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisonburg, VA | VA | $65,770 | 150 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | KY | $64,980 | |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | IA | $62,360 | 510 |
| Springfield, MO | MO | $60,090 | 290 |
| Binghamton, NY | NY | $58,650 | 70 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | MO | $57,700 | 360 |
| Battle Creek, MI | MI | $55,890 | 380 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | WA | $55,570 | 110 |
Industry Breakdown
The bulk of food batchmakers are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 145,060 | $43,980 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 8,910 | $35,230 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | 7,130 | $33,360 |
| Wholesale Trade | 5,320 | $38,170 |
| Retail Trade | 4,110 | $36,350 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 600 | $38,810 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 130 | $37,930 |
Below are examples of industries where food batchmakers work:
Tech Stack
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
Daily working conditions for food batchmakers reflects the following characteristics:
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Spend Time Standing
- Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
Getting Started in This Career
Most food batchmakers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Food Science Technicians (Supplemental)
- Cooks, Restaurant (Supplemental)
- Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products (Primary-Long)
- Bakers (Primary-Short)
- Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders (Primary-Short)
- Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders (Primary-Short)
- Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Supplemental)
- Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders (Supplemental)
Degree Programs
Aspiring food batchmakers often complete programs in:
Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences
2 programs across 1 majors
Sources
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 51-3092.00 (Food Batchmakers).