Prevailing Wage for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders
Prevailing wage for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders (SOC 51-3093) is set by the DOL using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data. Whether your offer is for a Cooker Operator, Fryer Operator, or Food Production Worker role, DOL publishes four experience-based wage levels, and the floor shifts considerably depending on where the worksite is located.
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Level 1 covers entry-level positions requiring minimal experience and close supervision. Workers at this stage perform routine tasks on cooking equipment under direct oversight, with limited independent judgment expected. Most candidates with fewer than one to two years of hands-on food production experience file here.
Level 2 applies to qualified workers with moderate experience who can operate cooking equipment with some independence. This is the most common filing level for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders, reflecting a baseline of practical competency without full lead-operator responsibility.
Level 3 covers experienced operators who handle varied cooking systems, troubleshoot equipment issues, and work with minimal supervision. Workers at this level typically bring several years of food production experience and may informally guide newer operators on the floor.
Level 4 applies to fully competent operators in senior or lead roles who set production standards, oversee equipment operation across a line or shift, and may train staff. This level reflects top-end expertise and broad responsibility within a food manufacturing environment.
Prevailing Wage for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for this role and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders
Watch for title aliasing on LCA filings
Job titles like Machine Operator or Kettle Fry Cook Operator are sometimes filed under broader SOC codes that carry different wage floors. Confirm that your LCA lists SOC 51-3093 specifically, or you may be compared against a mismatched prevailing wage.
Identify sponsors with a food manufacturing filing history
Migrate Mate shows which employers have historically sponsored Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders, letting you target companies that have already navigated the LCA process for this occupation rather than those sponsoring it for the first time.
Account for the wide gap between top and bottom metros
Prevailing wages for this occupation vary sharply by location. A worksite in a California Central Valley metro can carry a Level 1 floor nearly double that of a Texas border market. The LCA wage obligation ties to the actual worksite, not the employer's headquarters.
Exclude shift differentials when comparing to the floor
Food manufacturing employers often structure compensation with overtime premiums and shift differentials. DOL prevailing wage compliance is measured against the base hourly or annual wage, so bonuses and shift pay cannot bridge a gap between your base offer and the prevailing floor.
Jobs for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 51-3093.00 alongside Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Cooker Operator Prevailing Wage
Cooker Operator Prevailing Wage
Cooker Operator positions fall under SOC 51-3093.00 (Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Food Production Worker Prevailing Wage
Food Production Worker Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Food Production Worker for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-3093.00 (Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Fryer Operator Prevailing Wage
Fryer Operator Prevailing Wage
Fryer Operator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-3093.00 (Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Kettle Fry Cook Operator Prevailing Wage
Kettle Fry Cook Operator Prevailing Wage
Kettle Fry Cook Operator positions fall under SOC 51-3093.00 (Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Machine Operator Prevailing Wage
Machine Operator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Machine Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-3093.00 (Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Mogul Operator Prevailing Wage
Mogul Operator Prevailing Wage
Mogul Operator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-3093.00 (Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Oven Operator Prevailing Wage
Oven Operator Prevailing Wage
Oven Operator positions fall under SOC 51-3093.00 (Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Peeler Operator Prevailing Wage
Peeler Operator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Peeler Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-3093.00 (Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Retort Operator Prevailing Wage
Retort Operator Prevailing Wage
Retort Operator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-3093.00 (Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Thermo Processor Prevailing Wage
Thermo Processor Prevailing Wage
Thermo Processor positions fall under SOC 51-3093.00 (Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders?
DOL calculates prevailing wages using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For SOC 51-3093, DOL assigns four wage levels based on regional survey data from employers in food manufacturing and related industries. The Office of Foreign Labor Certification publishes these figures and updates them annually. Employers sponsoring workers on H-1B or PERM must pay at least the level that matches the position's actual duties and required experience.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my role?
Level 1 covers entry-level work under close supervision. Level 2 reflects qualified workers with moderate independence and is the most common filing level for this occupation. Level 3 applies to experienced operators who troubleshoot and work autonomously. Level 4 is for senior or lead operators with broad responsibility. The level is determined by the position's actual duties, required experience, and degree of supervision, not the job title on the offer letter.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders role differ so much between cities?
DOL calculates wages from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so each metro area reflects local labor market conditions in food manufacturing. The LCA worksite rule means the wage obligation is tied to where the employee actually works, not where the employer is headquartered. High-cost metros with dense food processing activity and tight labor markets produce higher survey-based floors than lower-cost regions with less competition for these workers.
What happens if an employer offers a wage below the prevailing wage floor for a sponsored position?
An LCA filed with a wage below the applicable prevailing wage will not be certified by OFLC. If an error is discovered after filing, USCIS can issue a Request for Evidence or deny the petition. For PERM-based green card cases, DOL audits compare offered wages against the prevailing wage on the application. Employers found out of compliance may face back-wage liability and debarment from future sponsorship. The prevailing wage is a binding floor, not a guideline.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders at a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up SOC 51-3093 wages by metropolitan area or state. Enter the worksite location, select the occupation, and the tool returns the four wage levels for that area. Cross-check against the employer's LCA, which must be publicly posted at the worksite. For a broader view of which employers have sponsored this role, Migrate Mate filters sponsorship history by occupation and location so you can compare active sponsors before applying.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders right now.
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